Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/123

 1569.] THE RISING OF THE NORTH. 109 was able to receive messages or carry them ; there to throw the castellan off his guard, he pretended to flirt with her attendants, and twice at least by his own con- fession, closely as the prisoner was watched, he contrived to hold private communications with her. The scenes which he describes throw sudden and vivid light upon the details of Mary Stuart's confine- ment. The rooms occupied by her opened out of the great hall. An antechamber and an apartment beyond it were given up to her servants. Her own bed-room, the third of the series, was at the farther extremity. A plan had been formed to carry her off. Lady Living- ston affected to be in love with young Norton, and had pretended to promise him a secret interview in the twilight outside the moat. The Queen was to personate the lady, and she and the cavalier were to fly together, It was necessary that Norton should see Mary Stuart to direct her what she was to do. He was on duty in the hall. By a preconcerted arrangement, a page in the anteroom took liberties with one of the maids. There was much screaming, tittering, and confusion. Norton rushed in to keep the peace, and, sheltered by the hubbub, contrived to pass through and to say what he desired. The scheme, like a hundred others, came to nothing ; but as one web was ravelled out, a second was instantly spun. Another time Mary Stuart had something to say to Norton ; and this scene so distinct is the picture may be told in his own words : ' One day when the Queen of Scots, in winter, 1 had 1 1568-9.