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"You may sit with me till bedtime if you desire, Anne," she said;
"but 'twill be but dull for you, as I go to sit at work. I have
some documents of import to examine and much writing to do. I shall
sit up late." And upon this she turned to the lacquey holding open
the door for her passing through. "If before half-past ten there
comes a message from Sir John Oxon," she gave order, "it must be
brought to me at once; but later I must not be disturbed--it will
keep until morning."
Yet as she spoke there was before her as distinct a picture as ever
of what lay waiting and gazing in the room to which she went.
Until twelve o'clock she sat at her table, a despatch box by her
side, papers outspread before her. Within three feet of her was the
divan, but she gave no glance to it, sitting writing, reading, and
comparing documents. At twelve o'clock she rose and rang the bell.
"I shall be later than I thought," she said. "I need none of you
who are below stairs. Go you all to bed. Tell my woman that she
also may lie down. I will ring when I come to my chamber and have
need of her. There is yet no message from Sir John?"
"None, my lady," the man answered.
He went away with a relieved countenance, as she made no comment.
He knew that his fellows as well as himself would be pleased enough
to be released from duty for the night. They were a pampered lot,
and had no fancy for late hours when there were no great
entertainments being held which pleased them and gave them chances
to receive vails.
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