Alas! there was a bright pair of eyes that saw more
than Philip Sidney’s, a pair of ears that heard
more, a tongue and pen less faithful to guard a secret.
But never more the same two sister pearls
Ran down the silken thread to kiss each other.—Tennyson
Berenger was obliged to crave permission from the
King to spend some hours in riding with Osbert to
the first hostel on their way, to make arrangements
for the relay of horses that was to meet them there,
and for the reception of Veronique, Eustacie’s
maid, who was to be sent off very early in the morning
on a pillion behind Osbert, taking with her the articles
of dress that would be wanted to change her mistress
from the huntress maid of honour to the English dame.
It was not long after he had been gone that a sound
of wheels and trampling horses was heard in one of
the forest drives. Charles, who was amusing
himself with shooting at a mark together with Sidney
and Teligny, handed his weapon to an attendant, and
came up with looks of restless anxiety to his Queen,
who was placed in her chair under the tree, with the
Admiral and her ladies round her, as judges of the
prize.
‘Here is le brouillon,’ he muttered.
’I thought we had been left in peace too long.’
Elisabeth, who Brantome says was water, while her
husband was fire, tried to murmur some hopeful suggestion;
and poor little Eustacie, clasping her hands, could
scarcely refrain from uttering the cry, ‘Oh,
it is my uncle! Do not let him take me!’
The next minute there appeared four horses greatly
heated and jaded, drawing one of the court coaches;
and as it stopped at the castle gate, two ladies became
visible within it—the portly form of Queen
Catherine, and on the back seat the graceful figure
of Diane de Ribaumont.
Charles swore a great oath under his breath.
He made a step forward, but then his glance falling
on Eustacie’s face, which had flushed to the
rosiest hue of the carnation, he put his finger upon
his lip with a menacing air, and then advanced to greet
his mother, followed by his gentlemen.
‘Fear not, my dear child,’ said the young
Queen, taking Eustacie’s arm as she rose for
the same purpose. ’Obey the King, and he
will take care that all goes well.’
The gentle Elisabeth was, however, the least regarded
member of the royal family. Her mother-in-law
had not even waited to greet her, but had hurried
the King into his cabinet, with a precipitation that
made the young Queen’s tender heart conclude
that some dreadful disaster had occurred, and before
Mademoiselle de Ribaumont had had time to make her
reverence, she exclaimed, breathlessly, ‘Oh,
is it ill news? Not from Vienna?’
‘No, no, Madame; reassure yourself,’ replied
Diane; ’it is merely that her Majesty, being
on the way to Monceaux with Mesdames, turned out of
her road to make a flying visit to your graces, and
endeavour to persuade you to make her party complete.’
