"All will yet come right" Then he kissed her before us all, and handed her to me saying, "Care for her, I pray you, sir." John spoke a few words to Sir William, and in a moment they both went back to the castle. In a short time the gates were opened, and the Rutland coach drawn by four horses emerged from the castle grounds. Sir William then directed Mary and Dorothy to enter the coach and requested me to ride with them to Haddon Hall. The yeoman guards were in marching order, and I took my seat in the coach. The fates surely were in a humorous mood when they threw Dorothy, Queen Mary, and myself together. Pause for a moment and consider the situation. You know all the facts and you can analyze it as well as I. I could not help laughing at the fantastic trick of destiny. Soon after I entered the coach Sir William gave the word, and the yeomen with Lord Rutland and John moved forward on the road to Haddon. The coach at once followed the guard and a score of yeomen followed us. Queen Mary occupied the back seat of the coach, and Dorothy and I sat upon the front seat facing her. Dorothy was exhausted, and her head lay upon my shoulder. Now and again she would softly moan and sob, but she said nothing. After a few minutes of silence Queen Mary spoke:-- "Why did you betray me, you miserable wretch? Why did you betray me?" Dorothy did not answer. Mary continued:-- "Have I ever injured you in any manner? Have I ever harmed you by thought, word, or deed?" Dorothy's only answer was a sob. "Perhaps you are a canting fanatic, and it may be that you hate me for the sake of that which you call the love of God?" "No, no, madam," I said, "that was not the reason." "Do you know the reason, Malcolm?" asked Mary, addressing me for the first time. My name upon her lips had a strange effect on me. It was like the wafting to my nostrils of a sweet forgotten odor, or the falling upon my ears of a tender refrain of bygone days. Her voice in uttering my name thrilled me, and I hated myself for my weakness. I told Mary that I did not know Dorothy's reasons, and she continued:-- "Malcolm, you were not a party to my betrayal for the sake of revenging yourself on me?" "God forbid!" I answered. "Sir John Manners will assure you of my innocence. I rode with Mistress Vernon to a cross-road within a league of Rutland, hoping thereby to assist her to give you and Sir John the alarm." My admission soon brought me into trouble. "I alone am to blame," said Dorothy, faintly. "I can easily believe you," said Mary, sharply. "Did you expect to injure me?" No answer came from Dorothy.