Serious matters, it may peradventure please your highness to ease your time

With lightsome entertainment, lest you go wearied to the banquet and suffer

harm thereby.'

Tom's face showed inquiring surprise; and a blush followed when he saw

Lord St. John's eyes bent sorrowfully upon him. His lordship said:

'Thy memory still wrongeth thee, and thou hast shown surprise — but suffer

it not to trouble thee, for 'tis a matter that will not bide, but depart with thy

mending malady. My Lord of Hertford speaketh of the city's banquet which

the king's majesty did promise two months flown, your highness should

attend. Thou recallest it now?'

'It grieves me to confess it had indeed escaped me,' said Tom, in a hesitating

Voice; and blushed again.

At that moment the Lady Elizabeth and the Lady Jane Grey were announced.

The two lords exchanged significant glances, and Hertford stepped quickly

toward the door. As the young girls passed him, he said in a low voice:

'I pray ye, ladies, seem not to observe his humors, nor show surprise when his

Memory doth lapse — it will grieve you to note how it doth stick at every

trifle.'

Meanwhile Lord St. John was saying in Tom's ear:

'Please you, sir, keep diligently in mind his majesty's desire. Remember all

thou canst — seem to remember all else. Let them not perceive that thou art