CHAPTER XX.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 134, 26 November 1875, Page 6

CHAPTER XX.

THE QUEEN'S ESCAPE. On the following day she kept her room. The next morning she sent for Florence. " I have very much to say to you, Florence," said the queen, in a cold, frigid tone of voice. " I will commence by observing that yon are too young to take so much upon yourself, as you have ; there are many now in the Tower, and there are some who have been condemned to death, for far less than you have - been guilty of. Nay, do not start and turn pale, child, but hear me out. It has come to my knowledge that you presumed to'Siix yourself up with the conspiracy, for which Mr. Asliton has, this morning, suffered the extreme penalty of the law at Tyburn. Nay, even whilst you have been about our person, and enjoying our patronage, you took the opportunity of a visit to your aged uncle, to disguise yourself, and seek Ashton hi prison but two days before his execution. I would ask if you have come here to help, by your puny efforts, those malcontents whom I am resolved to crush by the strong- arm of the law ; if so, why should I not do by you as I do by others." The tone of contempt, assumed by the queen, stung Florence to the quick ; but slie was wholly in the power of the latter, and she replied : " Gracious madam, I knew tlie unfortunate Ashton well. I crave your forgiveness for my stolen visit to him, but though I was aware I incurred the risk of your displeasure, I could not resist the desire I felt, once again, to visit Mm, before he suffered a violent death." "Nor could you resist, young mistress, the wish to combine with those who have suffered their just deserts. You have been within mi ace of commitall to the Tower : know you why you are pirdoned? I will tell you," continued the queen, "because you risked your own life to save mine on the night of the fire. On tha.t night, when I dismissed you, I had resolved to sign a warrant for your committal to the Tower on the morrow. Moreover, by your acts you have laid yourself open to the loss of the estates you will inherit from your uncle, and from Miss O'Neill. But my pardon is lull and entire ; in any other person's case, within the whole of our kingdom, their lands would be forfeited to the crown, for far less contumacious behaviour than your own. I forgive you Mistress Florence, in memory of the night on which you periled, your life to save mine." It was a part of the creed of Florence, to feel aversion for the princess who hid usuped her father's throne; nevertheless, for a brief period she felt drawn towards the queen, whilst she expressed her gratitude for the full pardon she had received, and her happiness that it had been in her power to aid her. " And now I expect, Mistress Florence, that you will make y jurselt contentful in my Court, and mix yourself up with no affairs of State in future, for rest assured, whatever you may think of the matter, you are no strong-minded heroine, but a very timid woman, imprudent and rash withal; and whilst you can do no possible good to those you love, may do very much mischief to yourself. As things now are, Mary of England cannot be unmindtul of one to whom she doubtless owes her life, but had there been no fire fit Whitehall, your own would have been ha danger ; or, let us say your liberty," she added, as though half sorry she had used the word "life," for a warm flush had mantled the cheek of Florence, as she thought of the peril she had so narrowly escaped. Many conflicting feelings agitated her mind when she found herself in the solitude of her chamber. That Mary had much to J pardon in her conduct there was no doubt, any more than the fact that the breaking out of the fire, had been a providential thing for her; for well slie knew the queen would have made srood her threat. Then again came the question, how had Mary found out that Florence had mixed herself up with the plot, for which Ashton suffered ; and, at last, though she did not like to think he had been so craven-hearted as needlessly to mention her name, she could not help criminating Lord Preston. Her suspicion was a correct one, and she came also to the not unlikely conclusion that emissaries of the government were actively employed in tracing out the movements of all those who were known to be of the Jacobite party ; and that Mary's suspicions once excited, it was no very difficult matter to discover how she had spent her time on the day in which she lui't the palace, avowedly only to visit her uncle. The young lady's pride and self-love were deeply wounded by^ the almost pitying and contemptuous language the queen had. chosen to use, bul she was compelled to own to herself that she was no match ior Mary, and that it were wise to submit with a good giace, seeing that the queen had full power to do with her as best pleased herself. Well was it for her that the confusion on the morning following the lire hau put oat of her head poor Ashton's execution. The scene with his wife and children on the previous evening had been reart-rending, but he died with courage and magnanimity. Hu ga,\ c a paper to the Sheriff, in which he owned his attachment to King Jiimes, witnessed to the birth of the Prince of Wales, denied that lie knew the contents of the papers that had been found upon him, complained of the harsh treatment he had met with iroin the judges, and declared that he forgave them before heaven.