Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 5.djvu/551

1555.] the Queen's feelings to conceal his own. If it was not so, the Queen's haunting consciousness of her unattractiveness must have been aggravated by the disappointment of her hopes, and she may have tortured herself with jealousy and suspicion.

At all events, Mary could not overcome her aversion. Elizabeth was set at liberty, but she was not allowed to remain at the Court. She returned to Ashridge, to be pursued even there with petty annoyances. Her first step when she was again at home was to send for her friend Mrs Ashley; the Queen instantly committed Mrs Ashley to the Fleet, and sent three other officers of her sister's household to the Tower; while a number of gentlemen suspected of being her adherents, who had remained in London beyond their usual time of leaving for the country, were ordered imperiously to their estates.

But neither impatience nor violence could conceal the fatal change which had passed over Mary's prospects. Not till the end of July could she part finally from her hopes. Then, at last, the glittering dream