I
will tell you something about her. She is beloved by the king's son, the
Duke of Richmond, but she requites not his passion, for her heart is
fixed on the youthful Earl of Surrey. Alack-a-day! the noble rivals
quarrelled and crossed swords about her; but as luck would have it,
they were separated before any mischief was done. The king was very
wroth with Lord Surrey, and ordered him to be imprisoned for two
months in the Round Tower, in this castle, where he is now, though his
term has very nearly expired."
"How I pity him, to be thus harshly treated!" remarked Mabel, her eyes
swimming with tears, "and the Lady Elizabeth too! I shall delight to
serve her."
"I am told the earl passes the whole of his time in poring over books
and writing love-verses and sonnets," said Deborah. "It seems strange
that one so young should be a poet; but I suppose he caught the art
from his friend Sir Thomas Wyat."
"Is he a friend of Sir Thomas Wyat?" asked Mabel quickly.
His close friend," replied Deborah; "except the Duke of Richmond, now
his rival, he had none closer. Have you ever seen Sir Thomas,
sweetheart?"
"Yes, for a few moments," replied Mabel confusedly.
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