“For Heaven’s sake send for your wife, Richard Talbot!” he said.  “It is her Majesty’s charge that some of mine household, or I myself, see this unhappy Queen of Scots each day for not less than two hours, as you well know.  My lady has broken away, and all her daughters, on this accursed fancy—­yea, and Gilbert too, Gilbert whom I always looked to to stand by me; I have no one to send.  If I go and attend upon her alone, as I have done a thousand times to my sorrow, it will but give colour to the monstrous tale; but if your good wife, an honourable lady of the Hardwicke kin, against whom none ever breathed a word, will go and give the daily attendance, then can not the Queen herself find fault, and my wife’s heated fancy can coin nothing suspicious.  You must all come up, and lodge here in the Manor-house till this tempest be overpast.  Oh, Richard, Richard! will it last out my life?  My very children are turned against me.  Go you down and fetch your good Susan, and take order for bringing up your children and gear.  Benthall shall take your turn at the lodge.  What are you tarrying for?  Do you doubt whether your wife have rank enough to wait on the Queen?  She should have been a knight’s lady long ago, but that I deemed you would be glad to be quit of herald’s fees; your service and estate have merited it, and I will crave license by to-day’s courier from her Majesty to lay knighthood on your shoulder.”

“That was not what I thought of, my Lord, though I humbly thank you, and would be whatever was best for your Lordship’s service, though, if it would serve you as well, I would rather be squire than knight; but I was bethinking me how we should bestow our small family.  We have a young damsel at an age not to be left to herself.”

“The black-browed maid—­I recollect her.  Let her e’en follow her mother.  Queen Mary likes a young face, and is kindly disposed to little maids.  She taught Bess Pierrepoint to speak French and work with her needle, and I cannot see that she did the lass any harm, nay, she is the only one of them all that can rule her tongue to give a soft answer if things go not after her will, and a maid might learn worse things.  Besides, your wife will be there to look after the maiden, so you need have no fears.  And for your sons, they will be at school, and can eat with us.”

Richard’s doubts being thus silenced he could not but bring his wife to his lord’s rescue, though he well knew that Susan would be greatly disturbed on all accounts, and indeed he found her deep in the ironing that followed the great spring wash, and her housewifely mind was as much exercised as to the effects of her desertion, as was her maternal prudence at the plunge which her unconscious adopted child was about to make.  However, there was no denying the request, backed as it was by her husband, looking at her proudly, and declaring she was by general consent the only discreet woman in Sheffield.  She was