"And swear To reverence the Queen as if she were Your conscience, and your conscience as the Queen. To break the heathen and uphold the Christ. To ride abroad redressing human wrong. To honour your own word as though your God's. To speak no slander, nay, or listen to it. To live a life of purest chastity. To love one maiden only, cleave to her And worship her with years of noble deeds." Then the air rang with music, while the Captain, Lord Sydney attending as a squire, put upon the lad a tunic of mail, and on his head the lion-crested casque, bound spurs upon his feet, hung a sword from his belt and bade him in his life and to his death be ever a Christian, a gentleman, a soldier, in the service of Almighty God, the British Empire, and our Sovereign Lady. The stately ritual was scarcely over, the regiment had not begun to disperse, the men just relieved from guard were still clattering in for dinner, when the great doors swung open at the back of the dais, and instantly every man in the room sprang at attention. For the usher had announced--"Her Majesty," and Margaret, attended by her ladies, entered the mess-room. "Cousin," said our Lady to the Captain, "we have come to demand the head of Sergeant Dymoke." The Captain passed the word, and the Queen's Champion came forward to make obeisance. "Sergeant," said our Lady, whose voice rang through the silent place, "you are charged with stealing my gloves. Guilty or not guilty?" "Guilty, Madame," said the Queen's Champion, prompt to the word. "You seem to be mightily pleased. I demand the gloves." "I have but one left, Madame, and that next my heart." "And where are the rest, pray?" "I don't know, Madame." But every man in the room had produced a glove to wave in triumph, and the officers themselves were first in the offence. "So this shameful theft has been committed by all my lords and gentlemen of the Guard. Do you all plead guilty?" The hall rang with the triumphant answer. "Then," the Queen's voice sounded more than severe, "we pronounce sentence. Your punishment shall be a full-dress mounted parade, with no excuses, at the stroke of the next hour." There was a general gasp of consternation. "We have been dull all day, a prisoner in the hands of our governess, but to-night we are mutinous, we shall take the air and ride with our Guard. Dismiss!" The Guard could not be restrained upon this eve of the Coronation from giving three cheers for the Queen, but presently the Captain begged leave of his cousin to grant audience to a new trooper. The quiet hall was almost empty now, and a young lad, shaking with fright, sank on one knee to kiss a small gloved hand. "Are you very much frightened?" The sweet voice came down to him out of a mist. "Very," sighed Browne, scarcely conscious that he spoke, for now he was looking up and saw the glorious beauty of the Queen.