"It was unthinking and unheeding in me to throw the light," she said. "What if the building had burned? The castle might have followed and thus endangered the life of the queen. Oh, miserable girl that I am! What would my father say to me?" "Be not so cast down," comforted Edward. "Thou hadst great provocation, and pardon me, mistress, but thy temper is not of the gentlest." "I know," said Francis with unwonted meekness. "But when I saw my hair, my pretty hair," she paused, her utterance choked, unwilling to give way to her grief before him. The boy touched the shorn head compassionately. "'Twill not be long before it will grow again," he said. "And so long as thou must wear that garb it will be all the better. I have seen many longing glances cast at thy locks, Francis. 'Tis wonder that such mishap hath not occurred before. If thou dost not wear them, thou hast at least put it out of their power to grace the head of another. There is something in that." "Yes;" said Francis with a flash of spirit. "I would not that harm should come to the palace, yet glad am I that the tresses were consumed. Thou hast been kind to me, Master Devereaux. And yet thou art mine enemy!" "Better an open enemy than a deceitful friend," quoth Edward sententiously. "Say no more, Francis Stafford. If I have been of service to thee, let it in some measure atone for my churlishness in killing that deer. But we must to our several abodes else we shall bring the displeasure of my lord chamberlain upon us. We shall have enough to answer to this charge. I fear the issue to-morrow. Come!" CHAPTER XVII WHAT FRANCIS OVERHEARD Francis awaited the coming of the day with some trepidation, fearing that she might be obliged to render an account of the night before. And indeed had the result been other than it was, she would have been called to a very serious reckoning. It was marvelous that there was not more damage sustained, but it came to her ears during the day that the fire had been extinguished before it had gone beyond the rushes. The hair had been totally consumed. The girl soon became aware that the episode was known throughout the court. When the Lady Priscilla Rutland made her appearance there was subdued laughter and titterings among the ladies and their gallants. Francis' shorn head was the cynosure of all eyes, but her manner was so haughty that it repelled all facetious remarks. The incident was recounted to Elizabeth. The queen laughed heartily at the discomfiture of the lady for she was never ill pleased when one of her maids brought ridicule upon herself, and turning to Lord Shrope who stood near while it was being related she remarked graciously: "Upon my word, my lord, there is more in that charge of thine than I thought. If certain rumors which have come to our ears be not verified we will have him placed nearer our person. Methinks such spirit well trained could be made useful."