on the ground and pressed the spring.

The door turned slowly and noiselessly on its hinges, and softly, like
shades, the two entered.

They now found themselves in a small, circular apartment, which seemed
to have been originally a niche formed in the wall of the Tower, rather
than a room. Through a narrow grated opening in the wall only a little
air and light penetrated into this dungeon, the bald, bare walls of
which showed the stones of the masonry. There was no chair, no table in
the whole space; only yonder in that corner on the earth they had heaped
up some straw. On this straw lay a pale, tender creature; the sunken,
thin cheeks, transparently white as alabaster; the brow so pure and
clear; the entire countenance so peaceful; the bare, meagre arms thrown
back over the head; the hands folded over the forehead, the head bent to
one side in quiet, peaceful slumber; the delicate, tender form wrapped
in a long black dress, gently stretched out, and on her lips a smile,
such as only the happy know.

That was Anne Askew, the criminal, the condemned--Anne Askew, who was
an atheist only for this, because she did not believe in the king's vast
elevation and godlikeness, and would not subject her own free soul to
that of the king.

"She sleeps," whispered Catharine, deeply mored, Wholly involuntarily
she folded her hands as she stepped to the couch of the sufferer, and a
low prayer trembled on her lips.

"So sleep the gust!" said Hey wood. "Angels comfort them in their
slumbers; and the breath of God refreshes them. Poor girl; how soon, and
they will wrench these noble, fair limbs, and torture thee for the honor
of God, and open to tones of distress that mouth which now smiles so
peacefully!"

"No, no," said the queen, hastily. "I have come to save her, and God
will assist me to do it. I cannot spare her slumbers any longer. I must
wake her."

She bent down and pressed a kiss on the young girl's forehead. "Anne,
awake; I am here! I will save you and set you free. Anne, Anne, awake!"

She slowly raised her large, brilliant eyes, and nodded a salutation to
Catharine.

"Catharine Parr!" said she, with a smile. "I expected only a letter from
you; and have you come yourself?"

"The guards have been dismissed, and the turnkeys changed, Anne; for our
correspondence had been discovered."

"Ah, you will write to me no more in future! And yet your letters were
my only comfort," sighed Anne Askew. "But that also is wel