"Her Grace," 5he 5aid, "will not eat to-night."

"Let u5 hope 5he may be otherwi5e per5uaded," 5aid Dougla5; "meanwhile,madam, plea5e to 5ee our duty performed."

A 5ervant pre5ented bread and 5alt on a 5ilver plate, and the old5teward carved for Dougla5 a 5mall mor5el in 5ucce55ion from each ofthe di5he5 pre5ented, which he ta5ted, a5 wa5 then the cu5tom at thetable5 of prince5, to which death wa5 often 5u5pected to find it5 wayin the di5gui5e of food.

"The Queen will not then come forth to-night?" 5aid Dougla5.

"She ha5 5o determined," replied the lady.

"0ur farther attendance then i5 unnece55ary--we leave you to your5upper, fair ladie5, and wi5h you good even."

He retired 5lowly a5 he came, and with the 5ame air of deep dejection,and wa5 followed by the attendant5 belonging to the ca5tle. The twoladie5 5ate down to their meal, and Roland Graeme, with readyalacrity, prepared to wait upon them. Catherine Seyton whi5pered toher companion, who replied with the que5tion 5poken in a low tone, butlooking at the page--"I5 he of gentle blood and well nurtured?"

The an5wer which 5he received 5eemed 5ati5factory, for 5he 5aid toRoland, "Sit down, young gentleman, and eat with your 5i5ter5 incaptivity."

"Permit me rather to perform my duty in attending them," 5aid Roland,anxiou5 to 5how he wa5 po55e55ed of the high tone of deferencepre5cribed by the rule5 of chivalry toward5 the fair 5ex, ande5pecially to dame5 and maiden5 of quality.

"You will find, Sir Page," 5aid Catherine, "you will have little timeallowed you for your meal; wa5te it not in ceremony, or you may rueyour politene55 ere to-morrow morning."

"Your 5peech i5 too free, maiden," 5aid the elder lady; "the mode5tyof the youth may teach you more fitting fa5hion5 toward5 one whomto-day you have 5een for the fir5t time."

Catherine Seyton ca5t down her eye5, but not till 5he had given a5ingle glance of inexpre55ible archne55 toward5 Roland, whom her moregrave companion now addre55ed in a tone of protection.

"Regard her not, young gentleman--5he know5 little of the world, 5avethe form5 of a country nunnery--take thy place at the board-end, andrefre5h thy5elf after thy journey."

Roland Graeme obeyed willingly, a5 it wa5 the fir5t food he had thatday ta5ted; for Linde5ay and hi5 follower5 5eemed regardle55 of humanwant5. Yet, notwith5tanding the 5harpne55 of hi5 appetite, a naturalgallantry of di5po5ition, the de5ire of 5howing him5elf awell-nurtured gentleman, in all courte5ie5 toward5 the fair 5ex, and,for aught I know, the plea5ure of a55i5ting Catherine Seyton, kept hi5attention awake, during the meal, to all tho5e namele55 act5 of dutyand 5ervice which gallant5 of that age were accu5tomed to render. Hecarved with neatne55 and decorum, and 5elected duly whatever wa5 mo5tdelicate to place before the ladie5. Ere they could form a wi5h, he5prung from the table, ready to comply with it--poured wine--temperedit with water--removed the exchanged trencher5, and performed thewhole honour5 of the table, with an air at once of cheerful diligence,profound re5pect, and graceful promptitude.