“Ay,” retorted Lady Crabtree; “the papists would have then the merry stirring that they have looked for these long years, and James of Scotland might use the nightcap that the pope sent him for Christmas. Happily, the queen’s death need not now mean the loss of the prince; but they do say that it is a sickly child, and like to be, with such a father.” “I remember the days when the king’s grace was the very type of English manhood,” Carew remarked thoughtfully, “and as gallant a knight as ever wore harness; of goodly stature and amiable countenance, wise in council, learned in philosophy, and as gracious a prince as any man might desire.” “A wise man now, save with women,” replied old Madam dryly; “but carrying too great a load of flesh and with the disease settled in his legs, no longer like to be a great soldier, or to live long. Well, well, this is his third queen, and she will not be cool before the Council will prefer suit to his grace to take another.” “It may be that another woman will not long for such an unlucky place,” remarked Betty, quietly; “there seems to be death in it.” “Cromwell can send abroad then,” said Lady Crabtree; “he will even get Master Friskyball to help him find an Italian princess; but look you, my girl, the applicants here will be as thick as cherries. Do you know your sex so little as to think that they will lose the chance of a crown? If a man looks like a wild boar, he will yet find a woman to marry him; some fool who will imagine that his heart is not indicated by his snout. I tell you women are all fools once; more’s the pity!” She was putting on her cloak as she spoke, and having muffled it about her, she gave some parting instructions to Sir William; and then taking Betty, went down the stairs to the door where her attendants waited her. “You will go to my lodgings,” she said to her young companion; “but I have other business, and it may be late this night before I come. Content yourself, however, with the recollection that I will keep Sir William spurred up to the pitch.” Reluctantly enough Mistress Betty resigned herself to the wishes of her elders, and was escorted to Lady Crabtree’s lodgings by one of her attendants. It was dusk when she passed through the gates, the porter closing them behind her. She crossed the little court, and entering the house, dismissed her follower and went alone up the stairs to the rooms where they were lodging. One of old Madam’s women was there and had made the place cheerful. A fire burned on the hearth, the tapers were lighted, and a supper was laid for two upon the table in the center. It was a fast day, and there were some salted eels, a gurnet and a chet loaf set out, with a tankard of ale; for my Lady Crabtree always did good trencher duty even when fasting, which she did after her own fashion.