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Angry with herself she turned for distraction to the portraits on the walls--they at least would offer no disturbing probleuardianat Barry Craven as she had visualised hi--steel-clad It was the picture of a younga light inlaid cuirass and leaning negligently against a stone balustrade, a hooded falcon on his wrist The resemblance to the owner of Craven Toas ree of the head, the saallant differed, for the lips were not set sternly but curved in a singularly winning smile The portrait had recently been cleaned and the colours stood out freshly The pose of the figure was curiously unrestrained for the period, a suggestion of energy--barely concealed by the indolent attitude--broke through the conventional treatment of the time, as if the painter had responded to an influence that had overcome tradition The whole body seemed to pulsate with life Gillian looked at it entranced; instinctively her eyes sought the pictured hands The one that held the falcon was covered with an e a set of jesses And even the hands were similar, the characteristics faithfully trans at the first Barry Craven, Miss Locke It is a wonderful picture The resemblance is extraordinary, is it not?"

She looked up and netic smile across the table

"It is--extraordinary," she said slowly; "it ht be a costume portrait of Mr Craven, except that in treat"

Peters laughed

"The professional eye, Miss Locke! But I alad that you admit the likeness I should have quarrelled horribly with you if you had failed to see it The youngto the subject as he saw the girl's interest, "was one of the n of Elizabeth and was poet, sculptor, and musician--there are two volumes of his verse in the library and the marble Hermes in the hall is his work When he was seventeen he left the Towers to go to court He see from various letters that have come down to us He was a close friend of Sir Philip Sidney and one of Spenser's numerous patrons A special favourite with Elizabeth--in fact her partiality see to entries in his private journal She knighted him for no particular reason that has ever transpired, indeed it seems to have been a matter of surprise to hiht this day by Gloriana God He knohy, but not I'