d Cranmer, with an arch smile, "that this anathema was
hurled against the head of our king also, and that it has shown itself
equally ineffectual against Henry the Eighth as against Luther. Besides,
I might remind you that we no longer call the Pope of Rome, 'Holy
Father,' and that you yourself have recognized the king as the head of
our church."

Gardiner turned away his face in order to conceal the vexation and rage
which distorted his features. He felt that he had gone too far, that he
had betrayed too much of the secret thoughts of his soul. But he could
not always control his violent and passionate nature; and however much
a man of the world and diplomatist he might be, still there were moments
when the fanatical priest got the better of the man of the world, and
the diplomat was forced to give way to the minister of the church.

Cranmer pitied Gardiner's confusion, and, following the native goodness
of his heart, he said pleasantly: "Let us not strive here about dogmas,
nor attempt to determine whether Luther or the pope is most in the
wrong. We stand here in the chamber of the young queen. Let us,
therefore, occupy ourselves a little with the destiny of this young
woman whom God has chosen for so brilliant a lot."

"Brilliant?" said Gardiner, shrugging his shoulders. "Let us first wait
for the termination of her career, and then decide whether it has been
brilliant. Many a queen before this has fancied that she was resting on
a couch of myrtles and roses, and has suddenly become conscious that she
was lying on a red-hot gridiron, which consumed her."

"It is true," murmured Cranmer, with a slight shudder, "it is a
dangerous lot to be the king's consort. But just on that account let us
not make the perils of her position still greater, by adding to them our
own enmity and hate. Just on that account I beg you (and on my part I
pledge you my word for it) that, let the choice of the queen be as it
may, there may be no feeling of anger, and no desire for revenge
in consequence. My God, the poor women are such odd beings, so
unaccountable in their wishes and in their inclinations!"

"Ah! it seems you know the women very intimately," cried Gardiner, with
a malicious laugh. "Verily, were you not Archbishop of Canterbury, and
had not the king prohibited the marriage of ecclesiastics as a very
grave crime, one might suppose that you had a wife yourself, and had
gained from her a thorough knowledge of female character."