there, madam," replied Ralegh; "scarce, however, of consequence sufficient to reach your Grace's ears."

10. "They hear farther than you think of," said the Queen graciously, " and have heard of a youth who defended a ford in Shannon against a whole band of rebels, until the stream ran purple with their blood and his own."

"Some blood I may have lost," said the youth, looking down; "but it was where my best is due, and that is in your Majesty's service."

11. The Queen paused, and then said hastily, You are very young to have fought so well and to speak so well. So hark ye, Master Ralegh, see thou fail not to wear thy muddy cloak, till our pleasure be further known. And here," she added, giving him a jewel of gold, "I give thee this to wear at the collar."

Ralegh, to whom nature had taught those courtly arts which many scarcely acquire from long experience, knelt, and, as he took from her hand the jewel, kissed the fingers which gave it.

From "Kenilworth," one of the Waverley Novels, by SIR WALTER SCOTT. 12

Questions:-1. Where did the pensioner take Ralegh? 2. What notice did the Queen take of him? 3. What invitation did he receive? 4. What formed the natural topic of their conversation? 5. What reward did the Queen promise him? 6. Thinking he preferred gold, what did the Queen say? 7. What did he ask? 8. Why? 9. What did the Queen wish to know? Of what did the name remind her? 10. What service had Ralegh rendered? 11. What permission did the Queen grant him? With what did she present him at the same time?

Notes and Meanings.

1 Au-gu-ry, omen; sign; that which Flood-tide, incoming tide. [foretells. As-so-ci-ates, companions.

2 Ex-pe-di-tion, speed.

Awn-ing, covering; screen.

Ad-vent-u-rer, one who seeks oppor

tunities for advancement.

Top-ic, subject; thing spoken of.
Liege-man's, loyal subject's.

6 Thrift-less fol-ly, wasteful spend-
ing of money.

A-bridged', cut short; made less.

9 Ro-manc-es, fanciful stories unlike real life.

3 Grace-ful a-gil-i-ty, easy, quick 10 Shan-non, a river in Ireland. movement; not awkward. 12 Sir Walter Scott. See note on page 35.

4 Em-bar-rass-ment, bashfulness; a holding back.

Summary:-By the Queen's command Ralegh was taken into Her Majesty's presence. The mudded cloak still hung upon his arm. Elizabeth thanked him for his service, and promised to give him a suit of the newest cut as a reward. This he declined, asking only permission to wear the cloak, his own cloak, on which Her Majesty's foot had been placed. The Queen, pleased with the request, bid him wear the muddy cloak till her pleasure should be further known, and gave him a jewel of gold to wear at the collar.

Exercises: 1. Parse and analyze : Ralegh was taken into Her Majesty's presence. 2. Change to Adjectives-respect, topic, service, duty, gold, shame, youth, honour.

3. Make Sentences containing-hall, haul; haven, heaven; hew, hue. 4. Write all you know about Sir Walter Ralegh.

LADY CLARE.

1. It was the time when lilies blow,
And clouds are highest up in air,
Lord Ronald brought a lily-white doe
To give his cousin, Lady Clare.

2. I trow they did not part in scorn;
Lovers long betrothed were they :
They two will wed the morrow morn;
God's blessing on the day.

3." He does not love me for my birth,

Nor for my lands, so broad and fair;—
He loves me for my own true worth,
And that is well," said Lady Clare.

4. In there came old Alice the nurse;

Said, "Who was this that went from thee?""It was my cousin," said Lady Clare; "To-morrow he weds with me."

5." O God be thanked!" said Alice the nurse, "That all comes round so just and fair ;Lord Ronald is heir of all your lands,

And you are not the Lady Clare.'

6." Are ye out of your mind, my nurse, my nurse,' Said Lady Clare, "that ye speak so wild?""As God's above," said Alice the nurse,

"I speak the truth-you are my child.

7." The old Earl's daughter died at my breast—
I speak the truth, as I live by bread!
I buried her like my own sweet child,
And put my child in her stead.”

8." Falsely, falsely have ye done,

O mother," she said, "if this be true;
To keep the best man under the sun
So many years from his due."

9." Nay, now, my child," said Alice the nurse;
"But keep the secret for your life,
And all you have will be Lord Ronald's
When you are man and wife."

10." If I'm a beggar born," she said,

"I will speak out, for I dare not lie ;-
Pull off, pull off the brooch of gold,

And fling the diamond necklace by !"

11." Nay, now, my child," said Alice the nurse; "But keep the secret all ye can.

12." Nay, now, what faith?" said Alice the nurse ; "The man will cleave unto his right."“And he shall have it," the lady replied, "Though I should die, to-night!"

13." Yet give one kiss to your mother dear! Alas, my child, I sinned for thee.".

"O mother, mother, mother," she said, "So strange it seems to me.

14." Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear,—
My mother dear, if this be so ;

And lay your hand upon my head,
And bless me, mother, ere I go."

15. She clad herself in a russet gown;
She was no longer Lady Clare :
She went by dale, and she went by down,
With a single rose in her hair.

16. The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought
Leapt up from where she lay,
Dropt her head in the maiden's hand,
And followed her all the way.

17. Down stept Lord Ronald from his tower : "O Lady Clare, you shame your worth! Why come you drest like a village maid, That are the flower of the earth?"

18." If I come drest like a village maid,
I am but as my fortunes are ;-
I am a beggar born," she said,
"And not the Lady Clare."

19." Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald,

"For I am yours in word and deed ;Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald; "Your riddle is hard to read."