Mary sprang to her feet with an angry flush in her face, exclaiming:  “Insolent fellow, I am the Princess Mary; if you have a message, deliver it and be gone.”  You may be sure this sort of treatment was such as the cool-headed, daring Brandon would repay with usury; so, turning upon his heel and almost presenting his back to Mary, he spoke to Lady Jane: 

“Will your ladyship say to her highness that her majesty, the queen, awaits her coming at the marble landing?”

“No need to repeat the message, Jane,” cried Mary.  “I have ears and can hear for myself.”  Then turning to Brandon:  “If your insolence will permit you to receive a message from so insignificant a person as the king’s sister, I beg you to say to the queen that I shall be with her presently.”

He did not turn his face toward Mary, but bowed again to Jane.

“May I ask your ladyship further to say for me that if I have been guilty of any discourtesy I greatly regret it.  My failure to recognize the Princess Mary grew out of my misfortune in never having been allowed to bask in the light of her countenance.  I cannot believe the fault lies at my door, and I hope for her own sake that her highness, on second thought, will realize how ungentle and unkind some one else has been.”  And with a sweeping courtesy he walked quickly down the path.

“The insolent wretch!” cried one.

“He ought to hold papers on the pillory,” said another.

“Nothing of the sort,” broke in sensible, fearless little Jane; “I think the Lady Mary was wrong.  He could not have known her by inspiration.”

“Jane is right,” exclaimed Mary, whose temper, if short, was also short-lived, and whose kindly heart always set her right if she but gave it a little time.  Her faults were rather those of education than of nature.  “Jane is right; it was what I deserved.  I did not think when I spoke, and did not really mean it as it sounded.  He acted like a man, and looked like one, too, when he defended himself.  I warrant the pope at Rome could not run over him with impunity.  For once I have found a real live man, full of manliness.  I saw him in the lists at Windsor a week ago, but the king said his name was a secret, and I could not learn it.  He seemed to know you, Jane.  Who is he?  Now tell us all you know.  The queen can wait.”

And her majesty waited on a girl’s curiosity.

I had told Jane all I knew about Brandon, so she was prepared with full information, and gave it.  She told the princess who he was; of his terrible duel with Judson; his bravery and adventures in the wars; his generous gift to his brother and sisters, and lastly, “Sir Edwin says he is the best-read man in the court, and the bravest, truest heart in Christendom.”

After Jane’s account of Brandon, they all started by a roundabout way for the marble landing.  In a few moments whom did they see, coming toward them down the path, but Brandon, who had delivered his message and continued his walk.  When he saw whom he was about to meet, he quickly turned in another direction.  The Lady Mary had seen him, however, and told Jane to run forward and bring him to her.  She soon overtook him and said: