pertinacious presence of one or other of the Talbots, who acted
completely up to their name.

Thus it was that the Queen, with Gilbert in close attendance, had
found herself an unseen spectator of the children's performance,
which she watched with the keen enjoyment that sometimes made her
forget her troubles for the moment.

"How got the imps such knowledge?" mused Gilbert Talbot, as he led
the Queen out on the sward which had been the theatre of their
mimicry.

"Do _you_ ask that, Sir Gilbert?" said the Queen with emphasis, for
indeed it was his wife who had been the chief retailer of scandal
about Queen Elizabeth, to the not unwilling ears of herself and his
mother; and Antony Babington, as my lady's page, had but used his
opportunities.

"They are insolent varlets and deserve the rod," continued Gilbert.

"You are too ready with the rod, you English," returned Mary. "You
flog all that is clever and spirited out of your poor children!"

"That is the question, madam. Have the English been found so
deficient in spirit compared with other nations?"

"Ah! we all know what you English can say for yourselves," returned
the Queen. "See what Master John Coke hath made of the herald's
argument before Dame Renown, in his translation. He hath twisted all
the other way."