CHRISTMAS WITH QUEEN BESS 201

lass through the bloom of the May. And Colley was sing-
ing as if his heart would leap out of his round mouth for
joy to follow after the song they sung, till they came to
the end and the skylark’s song.

There Colley ceased, and Nick went singing on alone,
forgetting, caring for, heeding nought but the song that
was in his throat.

The Queen’s fan dropped from her hand upon the floor.
No one saw it or picked it up. The Venetian ambassador
scarcely breathed.

Nick came down the stage, his hands before him, lifted
as if he saw the very lark he followed with his song, up,
up, up into the sun. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes
were wet, though his voice was asong and a laugh in one.

Then they were gone behind the curtain, into the shadow
and the twilight there, Colley with his arms about Nick’s
neck, not quite laughing, not quite sobbing. The manu-
script of the Revel lay torn in two upon the floor, and
Master Gyles had a foot upon each piece.

In the hall beyond the curtain was a silence that was
deeper than a hush, a stillness rising from the hearts of
men.

Then Elizabeth turned in the chair where she sat. Her
eyes were as bright as a blaze. And out of the sides of
her eyes she looked at the Venetian ambassador. He was
sitting far out on the edge of his chair, and his lips had
fallen apart. She laughed to herself. “It is a good song,
signor,” said she, and those about her started at the sound
of her voice. “Chi tace confessa—it is so! There are