ty carpet of the ground,
which, rising and falling in gentle, undulating lines, formed lovely
little hollows and hillocks, on which now and then was seen here and
there the slender and stately figure of a hart, or a roe, that, looking
around searchingly with his bright eyes, started back frightened into
the thicket on observing these two human figures and the group of horses
encamped there.

Suddenly this quiet was interrupted by the loud sound of the hunter's
horn, and in the distance were heard confused cries and shouts, which
were echoed by the dense forest and repeated in a thousand tones.

With a sigh the queen raised her head from the earl's shoulder.

The dream was at an end; the angel came with flaming sword to drive her
from paradise.

For she was no longer worthy of paradise. The fatal word had been
spoken, and while it brought her love, it had perjured her.

Henry's wife, his by her vow taken before the altar, had betrothed
herself to another, and given him the love that she owed her husband.

"It is passed," said he, mournfully. "These sounds call me back to my
slavery. We must both resume our roles. I must become queen again."

"But first swear to me that you will never forget this hour; that you
will ever think upon the oaths which we have mutually sworn."

She looked at him almost astounded. "My God! can truth and love be
forgotten?"

"You will remain ever true, Catharine?"

She smiled. "See, now, my jealous lord, do I address such questions to
you?"

"Oh, queen, you well know that you possess the charm that binds
forever."

"Who knows?" said she dreamily, as she raised her enthusiastic look
to heaven, and seemed to follow the bright silvery clouds which were
sailing slowly across the blue ether.

Then her eyes fell on her beloved, and laying her hand softly upon
his shoulder, she said: "Love is like God--eternal, primeval, and ever
present! But you must believe in it to feel its presence; you must trust
it to be worthy of its blessing!"

But the hallooing and the clangor of the horns came nearer and nearer.
Even now was heard the barking of the dogs and the tramp of horses.

The earl had untied the horses, and led Hector, who was now quiet and
gentle as a lamb, to his mistress.

"Queen," said Thomas Seymour, "two delinquents now approach you! Hector
is my accomplice, and had it not been that the fly I now see on his
swollen ear had made him raving, I should be the most pitiable and
u