' Then turning to Fleming, she instantly added, 'Thou
knowest, my friend, whether to make those who have served me
happy, was not ever Mary's favourite pastime. When I have
been rebuked by the stern preachers of the Calvinistic
heresy--when I have seen the fierce countenances of my
nobles averted from me, has it not been because I mixed in
the harmless pleasures of the young and gay, and rather for
the sake of their happiness than my own, have mingled in the
masque, the song or the dance, with the youth of my
household? Well, I repent not of it--though Knox termed it
sin, and Morton degradation--I was happy because I saw
happiness around me: and woe betide the wretched jealousy
that can extract guilt out of the overflowings of an
unguarded gaiety!--Fleming, if we are restored to our
throne, shall we not have one blithesome day at a blithesome
bridal, of which we must now name neither the bride nor the
bridegroom? But that bridegroom shall have the barony of
Blairgowrie, a fair gift even for a queen to give, and that
bride's chaplet shall be twined with the fairest pearls that
ever were found in the depths of Lochlomond; and thou
thyself, Mary Fleming, the best dresser of tires that ever
busked the tresses of a queen, and who would scorn to touch
those of any woman of lower rank--thou thyself shalt for my
love twine them into the bride's tresses.
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