"Two crowns, an't please your Grace," returned the supposed lady,
making a wild conjecture.

"Two crowns! thou foolish Antony!" Then recollecting herself, "two
crowns! what, when mine costs but half! Thou presumptuous, lavish
varlet--no, no, wench! what right hast thou to wear gowns finer than
thy liege?--I'll teach you." Wherewith, erecting all her talons, and
clawing frightfully with them in the air, the supposed Queen Bess
leapt at the unfortunate maid of honour, appeared to tear the
imaginary robe, and drove her victim on the stage with a great air of
violence, amid peals of laughter from the other children, loud enough
to drown those of the elders, who could hardly restrain their
merriment.

Gilbert Talbot, however, had been looking about him anxiously all the
time, and would fain have moved away; but a sign from Queen Mary
withheld him, as one of the children cried,

"Now! show us how she serves her lords."

The play seemed well understood between them, for the mimic queen
again settled herself on her throne, while Will Cavendish, calling
out, "Now I'm Master Hatton," began to tread a stately measure on the
grass, while the queen exclaimed, "Who is this new star of my court?
What stalwart limbs, what graceful tread! Who art thou, sir?"

"Madam, I am--I am. What is it? An ef--ef--"

"A daddy-long-legs," mischievously suggested another of the group.