AtthisterriblesarcasmLadyLochleventookasteptowardsMaryStuart，holdinginherhandtheknifewhichshehadjustbeenusingtocutoffapieceofmeatbroughthertotaste；butthequeenroseupwithsogreatacalmandwithsuchmajesty，thateitherfrominvoluntaryrespectorshameofherfirstimpulse，sheletfalltheweaponshewasholding，andnotfindinganythingsufficientlystronginreplytoexpressherfeelings，shesignedtotheservantstofollowher，andwentoutoftheapartmentwithallthedignitythatangerpermittedhertosummontoheraid。
ScarcelyhadLadyLochlevenlefttheroomthanthequeensatdownagain，joyfulandtriumphantatthevictoryshehadjustgained，andatewithabetterappetitethanshehadyetdonesinceshewasaprisoner，whileMarySeytondeploredinalowtoneandwithallpossiblerespectthisfatalgiftofreparteethatMaryhadreceived，andwhich，withherbeauty，wasoneofthecausesofallhermisfortunes；butthequeendidnothingbutlaughatallherobservations，sayingshewascurioustoseethefigurehergoodhostesswouldcutatdinnertime。
Afterbreakfast，thequeenwentdownintothegarden：hersatisfiedpridehadrestoredsomeofhercheerfulness，somuchsothat，seeing，whilecrossingthehall，amandolinlyingforgottenonachair，shetoldMarySeytontotakeit，tosee，shesaid，ifshecouldrecallheroldtalent。Inrealitythequeenwasoneofthebestmusiciansofthetime，andplayedadmirably，saysBrantome，ontheluteandviold’amour，aninstrumentmuchresemblingthemandolin。
MarySeytonobeyed。
Arrivedinthegarden，thequeensatdowninthedeepestshade，andthere，havingtunedherinstrument，sheatfirstdrewfromitlivelyandlighttones，whichsoondarkenedlittlebylittle，atthesametimethathercountenanceassumedahueofdeepmelancholy。MarySeytonlookedatherwithuneasiness，althoughforalongtimeshehadbeenusedtothesesuddenchangesinhermistress’shumour，andshewasabouttoaskthereasonofthisgloomyveilsuddenlyspreadoverherface，when，regulatingherharmonies，Marybegantosinginalowvoice，andasifforherselfalone，thefollowingverses：——
“Caverns，meadows，plainsandmounts，Landsoftreeandstone，Rivers，rivuletsandfounts，BywhichIstrayalone，BewailingasIgo，Withtearsthatoverflow，SingwillI
ThemiserablewoeThatbidsmegrieveandsigh。
Ay，butwhatisheretolendEartomylament？
WhatisherecancomprehendMydulldiscontent？
Neithergrassnorreed，Northeripplesheed，Flowingby，WhilethestreamwithspeedHastensfrommyeye。
VainlydoesmywoundedheartHope，alas，toheal；
Seeking，toallayitssmart，Thingsthatcannotfeel。
BettershouldmypainBitterlycomplain，Cryingshrill，TotheewhodostconstrainMyspirittosuchill。
Goddess，whoshaltneverdie，ListtowhatIsay；
ThouwhomakestmetolieWeakbeneaththysway，IfmylifemustknowEndingatthyblow，Cruellest！
OwnitperishedsoButatthybehest。
Lo！myfacemayallmenseeSlowlypineandfade，E’enasicedothmeltandfleeNearafurnacelaid。
YettheburningrayWastingmeawayPassion’sglow，WakensnodisplayOfpityformywoe。
Yetdoeseveryneighbourtree，Everyrockywall，Thismysorrowknowandsee；
So，inbrief，dothallNatureknowarightThismysorryplight；
ThoualoneTakestthydelightTohearmecryandmoan。
Butifitbethywill，ToseetormentedstillWretchedme，ThenletmywofulillImmortalbe。“
Thislastversediedawayasifthequeenwereexhausted，andatthesametimethemandolinslippedfromherhands，andwouldhavefallentothegroundhadnotMarySeytonthrownherselfonherkneesandpreventedit。Theyounggirlremainedthusathermistress’sfeetforsometime，gazingathersilently，andasshesawthatshewaslosingherselfmoreandmoreingloomyreverie——
“HavethoselinesbroughtbacktoyourMajestysomesadremembrance？“
sheaskedhesitatingly。
“Oh，yes，“answeredthequeen；“theyremindedmeoftheunfortunatebeingwhocomposedthem。“
“AndmayI，withoutindiscretion，inquireofyourgracewhoistheirauthor？“
“Alas！hewasanoble，brave，andhandsomeyoungman，withafaithfulheartandahothead，whowoulddefendmeto-day，ifIhaddefendedhimthen；buthisboldnessseemedtomerashness，andhisfaultacrime。Whatwastobedone？Ididnotlovehim。PoorChatelard！I
wasverycrueltohim。“
“Butyoudidnotprosecutehim，itwasyourbrother；youdidnotcondemnhim，thejudgesdid。“
“Yes，yes；IknowthathetoowasMurray’svictim，andthatisnodoubtthereasonthatIamcallinghimtomindjustnow。ButIwasabletopardonhim，Mary，andIwasinflexible；Iletascendthescaffoldamanwhoseonlycrimewasinlovingmetoowell；andnowI
amastonishedandcomplainofbeingabandonedbyeveryone。Listen，darling，thereisonethingthatterrifiesme：itis，thatwhenI
searchwithinmyselfIfindthatIhavenotonlydeservedmyfate，buteventhatGoddidnotpunishmeseverelyenough。“
“Whatstrangethoughtsforyourgrace！“criedMary；“andseewherethoseunluckylineswhichreturnedtoyourmindhaveledyou，theverydaywhenyouwerebeginningtorecoveralittleofyourcheerfulness。“
“Alas！“repliedthequeen，shakingherheadandutteringadeepsigh，“forsixyearsveryfewdayshavepassedthatIhavenotrepeatedthoselinestomyself，althoughitmaybeforthefirsttimeto-daythatIrepeatthemaloud。HewasaFrenchmantoo，Mary：theyhaveexiledfromme，takenorkilledallwhocametomefromFrance。DoyourememberthatvesselwhichwasswallowedupbeforeoureyeswhenwecameoutofCalaisharbour？Iexclaimedthenthatitwasasadomen：youallwantedtoreassureme。Well，whowasright，now，youorI？“
Thequeenwasinoneofthosefitsofsadnessforwhichtearsarethesoleremedy；soMarySeyton，perceivingthatnotonlywouldeveryconsolationbevain，butalsounreasonable，farfromcontinuingtoreactagainsthermistress’smelancholy，fullyagreedwithher：itfollowedthatthequeen，whowassuffocating，begantoweep，andthathertearsbroughthercomfort；thenlittlebylittlesheregainedself-control，andthiscrisispassedasusual，leavingherfirmerandmoreresolutethanever，sothatwhenshewentuptoherroomagainitwasimpossibletoreadtheslightestalterationinhercountenance。
Thedinner-hourwasapproaching，andMary，whointhemorningwaslookingforwardimpatientlytotheenjoymentofhertriumphoverLadyLochleven，nowsawheradvancewithuneasiness：themereideaofagainfacingthiswoman，whoseprideonewasalwaysobligedtoopposewithinsolence，was，afterthemoralfatiguesoftheday，afreshweariness。Soshedecidednottoappearfordinner，asonthedaybefore：shewasallthemoregladshehadtakenthisresolution，thatthistimeitwasnotLadyLochlevenwhocametofulfilthedutiesenjoinedonamemberofthefamilytomakethequeeneasy，butGeorgeDouglas，whomhismotherinherdispleasureatthemorningscenesenttoreplaceher。Thus，whenMarySeytontoldthequeenthatshesawtheyoungmanwithdarkhaircrossthecourtyardonhiswaytoher，Marystillfurthercongratulatedherselfonherdecision；forthisyoungman’sinsolencehadwoundedhermoredeeplythanallhismother’shaughtyinsults。Thequeenwasnotalittleastonished，then，wheninafewminutesMarySeytonreturnedandinformedherthatGeorgeDouglas，havingsentawaytheservants，desiredthehonourofspeakingtoheronamatterofimportance。Atfirstthequeenrefused；butMarySeytontoldherthattheyoungman’sairandmannerthistimeweresodifferentfromwhatshehadseentwodaysbefore，thatshethoughthermistresswouldbewrongtorefusehisrequest。
Thequeenrosethen，andwiththeprideandmajestyhabitualtoher，enteredtheadjoiningroom，and，havingtakenthreesteps，stoppedwithadisdainfulair，waitingforGeorgetoaddressher。
MarySeytonhadspokentruly：GeorgeDouglaswasnowanotherman。
To-dayheseemedtobeasrespectfulandtimidastheprecedingdayhehadseemedhaughtyandproud。He，inhisturn，madeasteptowardsthequeen；butseeingMarySeytonstandingbehindher——
“Madam，“saidhe，“IwishedtospeakwithyourMajestyalone：shallI
notobtainthisfavour？“
“MarySeytonisnotastrangertome，Sir：sheismysister，myfriend；sheismorethanallthat，sheismycompanionincaptivity。“
“Andbyalltheseclaims，madam，Ihavetheutmostvenerationforher；butwhatIhavetotellyoucannotbeheardbyotherearsthanyours。Thus，madam，astheopportunityfurnishednowmayperhapsneverpresentitselfagain，inthenameofwhatisdearesttoyou，grantmewhatIask。“
TherewassuchatoneofrespectfulprayerinGeorge’svoicethatMaryturnedtotheyounggirl，and，makingherafriendlysignwithherhand——
“Go，then，darling，“saidshe；“butbeeasy，youwilllosenothingbynothearing。Go。“
MarySeytonwithdrew；thequeensmilinglylookedafterher，tillthedoorwasshut；then，turningtoGeorge——
“Now，sir，“saidshe，“wearealone，speak。“
ButGeorge，insteadofreplying，advancedtothequeen，and，kneelingononeknee，drewfromhisbreastapaperwhichhepresentedtoher。