 meet them there, and
for the reception of Veronique, Eustacie's maid, who was to be sent off
very early in the morning on a pillion behind Osbert, taking with her
the articles of dress that would be wanted to change her mistress from
the huntress maid of honour to the English dame.

It was not long after he had been gone that a sound of wheels and
trampling horses was heard in one of the forest drives. Charles, who
was amusing himself with shooting at a mark together with Sidney and
Teligny, handed his weapon to an attendant, and came up with looks of
restless anxiety to his Queen, who was placed in her chair under the
tree, with the Admiral and her ladies round her, as judges of the prize.

'Here is _le brouillon_,' he muttered. 'I thought we had been left in
peace too long.'

Elisabeth, who Brantome says was water, while her husband was fire,
tried to murmur some hopeful suggestion; and poor little Eustacie,
clasping her hands, could scarcely refrain from uttering the cry, 'Oh,
it is my uncle! Do not let him take me!'

The next minute there appeared four horses greatly heated and jaded,
drawing one of the court coaches; and as it stopped at the castle gate,
two ladies became visible within it--the portly form of Queen Catherine,
and on the back seat the graceful figure of Diane de Ribaumont.

Charles swore a great oath under his breath. He made a step forward,
but then his glance falling on Eustacie's face, which had flushed to
the rosiest hue of the carnation, he put his finger upon his lip with
a menacing air, and then advanced to greet his mother, followed by his
gentlemen.

'Fear not, my dear child,' said the young Queen, taking Eustacie's arm
as she rose for the same purpose. 'Obey the King, and he will take care
that all goes well.'

The gentle Elisabeth was, however, the least regarded member of the
royal family. Her mother-in-law had not even waited to greet her, but
had hurried the King into his cabinet, with a precipitation that made
the young Queen's tender heart conclude that some dreadful disaster