Master Hamilton has
pretty well covered the ground with overgrown beauty patches."
Betty laughed softly, and fat old Lilly chuckled as he resumed his place
at his desk.
There being no mirror in the room, Frances put her hand to her face and
found traces of printers' ink on her fingers, whereupon she blushed and
laughed and was so beautiful that we all laughed from the sheer delight
of looking at her.
"Again Baron Ned is right, Frances," said Hamilton, offering to lead her
toward the St. George door. "You must not remain. We may be surprised by
the sheriffs at any moment, in which case you would suffer in reputation
and I might not be able to escape."
We passed into the tapestried room, and after Hamilton had closed the
St. George door, we paused for a moment before leaving. Presently I
started to go, but Frances held back. I had reached the outer door and
was waiting, somewhat impatiently, when Betty came up to me, opened the
door, drew me outside, closed the door, and whispered:--
"Don't you understand? They would be alone a moment."
"Do you think so, Betty?" I asked, laughing at her earnestness.
"I know it," she returned emphatically.
When George and Frances were alone, she said: "I shall never again give
you cause to say that I am cruel, for I shall never again see you." She
tried to keep back the tears, but failed, and after a moment, continued,
unheeding them, "If you could but know the joy this meeting has given me
and the grief of parting, you would understand my sorrow for having
wronged you, and would know the deep pain of farewell.
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