Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-04-24
CHAPTER v.

yg4&fJ king and queen. He was no"
elioible to all palace entertainments
and would probably have many invita-
tons. being a favorite with both their
majesties. As to his standing with
Mary, who was really the most lmpor-
tant figure socially about the court, l
could not exactly say. She was such
mixture of contradictory impulses ana
rapid transitions, and was so full OF
whims and caprice, the inevitable out
growth Of her blood, her rank and the
adulation amid which she had always
lived. that could not predict for
day ahead her attitude toward any one.
She had never shown so great favor
to any man as to Brandon, but just
how much of her condescension was
a mere whim, growing out OF the I'M
pulse Of the moment and subject to
reaction, / could not tell. believed,
however, that Brandon stood upon
firmer foundation with this changing,
shifting quicksand Of girl than with
either of their majestes.
In fact, I thought he rested upon her
heart itself. But to guess correctly
what girl of that sort will do or think
or feel would require inspiration.
or course most of the entertainments
given by the king and queen included
as guests nearly all the court, but
Mary often had little fetes and dane
ing parties which were smaller, more
select and informal. These parties were
really with the consent and encourage
ment of the king, to avoid the respon-
sibility of not inviting everybody. The
larger affairs were very dull, and
smaller ones might give offense to
those who We're left out. The latter,
therefore. were turned over to Mary.
who cared very little who was Offend
ed or who was not, and invitations TO
them were highly valued.
One afternoon day or two AFTER
Brandons presentation message ar
rived from Mary notifying me that she
would have little fete that evening
in one of the smaller halls and direct
ing me to be there as master of the
dance. Accompanying the message was
4 note from no less person than the
princess herself, inviting Brandon.
This was an honor indeed-an auto
graph invitation from the hand OF Ma
nv! But the masterful rascal did not
seem to consider it anything unusual
and when | handed him the note upon
his return from the hunt he simply
read it carelessly over once, tore IT Ill
pieces and tossed it away. l believe
the Duke of Buckingham would have
given 10000 crowns to receive such a
note and would doubtless have shown
It to half the court in triumphant con-
fdence before the middle Of the night
To this great captain Of the guard II
was but scrap of paper. He was GLAD
to have 1t, nevertheless, and with all his
self restraint and stoicism could moi
conceal his pleasure.
Brandon at once accepted the invita-
ton in a personal note to the princess
The holiness of this actually took my
breath, and it seems at first to have
startled Mary a little also. AS you
must know by this time, her dignity
royal" was subject to alarms and quite
her most troublesome attribute-very
ant to receive damage in her relations
with Brandon.
Mary did not destroy Brandon's note
DESPITE the fact that her sense Of dig
nity had been disturbed by it, but aftel
she had read it slipped off into her pri
yate room. read it again and put 1t OF
her escritoire. Soon she picked 1t up
reread it and, after little hesitation
put it in her pocket. 1t remained II
the pocket for moment or two, wheI
out 1t came for another perusal, ant
then she unfastened her bodice and pu
It in her bosom. Mary had been SO In
tent upon what she was doing that sh'
had not seen Jane, who was sitting
quietly in the window, and when sh'
turned and saw her she was so angr,
she snatched the note from her bosom
and threw it upon the floor, stamping
her foot in embarrassment and rage.
How dare you watch me. hussy!
she cried. "You lurk around as still a
the grave, and have to look into ever!
nook and corner wherever l go or hav'
you spying on me-"
II did not spy upon you. Lady Mary,
said Jane quietly.
"Don't answer me! l know you did
I want YOU to be less silent after this
Do you hear? Cough or sing or stun
BILE; do something, anything. that
may hear you"
Jane rose, picked up the note ana OIL
fered it to her mistress, who snatche'
II with one hand while she gave her
sharp slap with the other. Jane RAJ
out, and Mary. full of anger and shame
slammed the door and locked 1t. IN
! note, being the cause of all the trouble
{ she impatiently threw to the foo
again and went over to the windoN
bench, where she threw herself dow
to pout. In the course of five minute
abe turned her head for one 1eetin
instant and looked at the note. an
: then. after q little hesitation. stol
over to where she had thrown it an
picked it up. Going back to the ligh
at the window she held it in her han
a moment and then read it once. twict
thrice. The third time brought th
smile, and the note nestled in th
bosom again.
Jane did not come off SO well. for he
mistress did not speak to her until sh
called her in that evening to make be
toilet. By that time Mary had forgo
ten about the note in her bosom; s
when Jane began to array her for th
dance it fell to the floor. whereupo