her head, hastily passed on, and embarked in her barge without saying a word.

"Come along, Sir Coxcomb," said Blount, "your gay mantle will need the brush to-day, I wot."

"This cloak," said the youth, taking it up and folding it," shall never be brushed while in my possession."

And that will not be long, if you learn not a little more economy."

Their discourse was here interrupted by one of the band of pensioners.

"I was sent,” said he, after looking at them attentively, "to a gentleman who hath no cloak, or a muddy one. You, sir, I think," addressing the younger cavalier, "are the man; you will please to follow me."

"He is in attendance on me," said Blount, -" on me, the noble Earl of Sussex's Master of Horse."

"I have nothing to say to that," answered the messenger. "My orders are directly from her Majesty, and concern this gentleman only."

So saying, he walked away, followed by Walter, leaving the others behind, Blount's eyes almost starting from his head with the excess of his astonishment. At length he gave vent to it in an exclamation, "Who in the world would have thought this?" And shaking his head with a mysterious air, he walked to his own boat, embarked, and returned to Deptford.

The young cavalier was, in the meanwhile, guided to the water-side by the pensioner, who showed him considerable respect—a circumstance which, to persons in his situation, may be considered as an augury of no small consequence. He ushered him into one of the wherries which lay ready to attend the queen's barge, which was already proceeding up the river.

The two rowers used their oars with such expedition that they soon brought their little skiff under the stern of the queen's boat, where she sat beneath an awning, attended by ladies and nobles of her household. She looked more than once at the wherry in which the young adventurer was seated, spoke to those around her, and seemed to laugh.

At length one of the attendants, by the queen's order apparently, made a sign for the wherry to come alongside, and the young man was desired to step from his own skiff into the queen's barge, which he performed with graceful agility at the fore part of the boat, and was brought aft to the queen's presThe muddied cloak still hung upon his arm, and formed the natural topic with which the queen introduced the conversation.

ence.

"You have this day spoiled a gay mantle in our service, young man. We thank you for your service, though the manner of offering it was unusual and something bold."

"In a sovereign's need," answered the youth, "it is each liegeman's duty to be bold."

"That was well said, my lord," said the queen, turning to a grave person who sat by her, and answered with a grave inclination of the head. "Well, young man, your gallantry shall not go unrewarded. Go to the wardrobe-keeper, and he shall have orders to supply the suit which you have cast away in our service. Thou shalt have a suit, and that of the newest cut, I promise thee on the word of a princess."

May it please your grace," said Walter, hesitating, "it is not for so humble a servant of your Majesty to measure out your bounties; but if it became me to choose

I

"Thou would'st have gold, I warrant me," said the queen, interrupting him; "fie, young man! take shame to say that in our capital, such and so various are the means of thriftless folly, that to give gold to youth is giving fuel to fire, and furnishing them with the means for self-destruction. Yet thou may'st be poor," she added, "or thy parents may be. It shall be gold if thou wilt, but thou shalt answer to me for the use of it."

Walter waited patiently until the queen had done, and then modestly assured her, that gold was still less in his wish than the raiment her Majesty had before offered.

"How, boy," said the queen, "neither gold nor garment! What is it thou would'st have of me, then?"

"Only permission, madam-if it is not asking too high an honor-permission to wear the cloak which did you this trifling service.”

“Permission to wear thine own cloak, thou silly boy!" said the queen.

"It is no longer mine," said Walter. "When your Majesty's foot touched it, it became a fit mantle for a prince, but far too rich a one for its former owner."

"Heard you ever the like, my lords? The youth's head is turned with reading romances-I must know something of him, that I may send him safe to his friends. What is thy name and birth?"

"Raleigh is my name, most gracious queen, the youngest son of a large but honorable family in Devonshire.

"Raleigh?" said Elizabeth, after a moment's recollection. * Have we not heard of your service in Ireland?"

- I have been so fortunate as to do some service there, madam." replied Raleigh—ware, however, of consequence sufficient to read your Majesty's

ears.

They bear fucker for you **** uit te queen, graciously; and have heard of a youth vio defended a ford in Shannon against a whole band of rebels pot the stream res purple with ther blood and his own"

* Some blood 1 may have lost tid the yout