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 the good jere 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, with the advantage of that flood-tide of which, in the course of their descent, Blount had complained to his associates.

The two rowers used their oars with such expedition at the signal of the Gentleman Pensioner, that they very soon brought their little skiff under the stern of the Queen’s boat, where she sat beneath an awning, attended by two or three ladies, and the 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 presence, the wherry at the same time dropping into the rear.  The youth underwent the gaze of Majesty, not the less gracefully that his self-possession was mingled with embarrassment.  The muddled cloak still hung upon his arm, and formed the natural topic with which the Queen introduced the conversation.

“You have this day spoiled a gay mantle in our behalf, 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.”

“God’s pity! 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, and something of a mumbled assent.—­“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—­”

“Thou wouldst have gold, I warrant me,” said the Queen, interrupting him.  “Fie, young man!  I 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 of self-destruction.  If I live and reign, these means of unchristian excess shall be abridged.  Yet thou mayest 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 on’t.”