Footsteps sounded without. Mary flung the spoon on to the fire and softly unlocked the door.
The sempstresses entered with the silver lamp, dutifully lit and placed it on the mantelshelf.
Mary stood holding her garments tightly together on her breast.
"Have you ever had the smallpox?" she asked gently.
They both answered together.
"Yes, Your Majesty; but not the black smallpox, an it please Your Majesty."
Mary looked into their fair, undisfigured faces.
"No," she answered; "the black smallpox is ever fatal, is it not——"
"They say so, Your Majesty," said the elder girl, pinning up the lace on the silver underskirt. "And there is a deal of it in London now, Your Majesty."
Mary made no reply. They finished with the dress and left her, having laced her into the brown velvet.