Читать книгу Bess of Hardwick and Her Circle онлайн

54 страница из 82

Fiddler. The title I know not, my Lady, but the song of it begins—

You have a lodging in my heart

For which you pay no rent.

Bess. Marry, and you chose that to greet the Queen?

Fiddler. It is for you to choose, my Lady.

Bess. Go to, go to. Back to the kitchens with your fiddle. I will choose later. [Enter Master Crompe.] Crompe, Crompe, did you hear what he said—the name of his tune?

Crompe. Yes, my Lady.

Bess. He is an impudent fellow, Crompe.

Crompe. Innocent I trust, my Lady.

Bess. There was a wink in his eye, Crompe. [Stamps her foot.] “You have a lodging in my heart”—forsooth!—“For which you pay no rent!” Mark that, Crompe. It mislikes me much. He should play that to my Lord Treasurer at Court. An’ the next letter gives no surety of that I will no more tear down my tapestries to furnish a prison-house.

Crompe [soothingly]. My Lord has her Majesty’s promise in writing that the furnishments shall be sent. And for the present we can make shift.

Bess. Well, well, time passes and nothing is finished. [Seats herself at the table.] Bring me the ink, good Crompe, that I may check the appointments in the Scots Queen’s chambers. [Crompe goes out.] Crompe, Crompe, who has littered this room with this green stuff?