The boy tried still to stand on his dignity and bar the way, but it was difficult to be dignified with a ringing head and a scarlet ear.
“Stand aside,” said Mary, stamping her little buckled foot, “this instant; unless you would be dragged by your red ear before the Queen’s Grace. Come, Master Anthony.”
So the two went upstairs together, and the lad called up after them bitterly:
“I beg your pardon, Mistress; I did not recognise he was your gallant.”
“You shall pay for that,” hissed Mary over the banisters.
They went along a passage or two, and the sound of a voice singing to a virginal began to ring nearer as they went, followed by a burst of applause.
“Lady Leicester,” whispered Mary; and then she opened the door and they went in.
There were three rooms opening on one another with wide entrances, so that really one long room was the result. They were all three fairly full; that into which they entered, the first in the row, was occupied by some gentlemen-pensioners and ladies talking and laughing; some playing shove-groat, and some of them still applauding the song that had just ended. The middle room was much the same; and the third, which was a step higher than the others, was that in which was the Queen, with Lady Leicester and a few more. Lady Leicester had just finished a song, and was laying her virginal down. There was a great fire burning in the middle room, with seats about it, and here Mary Corbet brought Anthony. Those near him eyed him a little; but his companion was sufficient warrant of his respectability; and they soon got into talk, which was suddenly interrupted by the Queen’s voice from the next room.
“Minnie, Minnie, if you can spare a moment from your lad, come and help us at a dance.”
The Queen was plainly in high good-humour; and Mary got up and went into the Queen’s room. Those round the fire stood up and pushed the seats back, and the games ceased in the third room; as her Grace needed spectators and applause.