ed thoughtfully upon the ground. With firm
resolution she struggled with herself. Her proud heart reared fiercely
up at the thought of bowing before this woman, whom she hated, and
of being obliged to approach her with a fawning prayer. She felt such
raging hate against the queen, that in that hour she would willingly
have given her own life, if she could have first seen her enemy at her
feet, wailing and crushed.

Henry Howard loved the queen; so Catharine had robbed her of the heart
of him whom she adored. Catharine had condemned her to the eternal
torment of renouncing him--to the rack of enjoying a happiness and a
rapture that was not hers--to warm herself at a fire which she like a
thief had stolen from the altar of another's god.

Catharine was condemned and doomed. Jane had no more compassion. She
must crush her.

"Well," asked the queen, "you are silent? You do not tell me what I am
to grant you?"

Lady Jane raised her eyes, and her look was serene and peaceful.
"Queen," said she, "I encountered in the ante-room one who is unhappy,
deeply bowed down. In your hand alone is the power to raise him up
again. Will you do it?"

"Will I do it!" exclaimed Catharine, quickly. "Oh, Jane, you well know
how much my heart longs to help and be serviceable to the unfortunate!
Ah, so many wounds are inflicted at this court, and the queen is so poor
in balm to heal them! Allow me this pleasure then, Jane, and I shall be
thankful to you, not you to me! Speak then, Jane, speak quickly; who is
it that needs my help?"

"Not your help, queen, but your compassion and your grace. Earl Sudley
has conquered poor Earl Surrey in the tournament to-day, and you
comprehend that your lord chamberlain feels himself deeply bowed and
humbled."

"Can I alter that, Jane? Why did the visionary earl, the enthusiastic
poet, allow himself a contest with a hero who already knows what he
wants, and ever accomplishes what he wills? Oh, it was wonderful to look
upon, with what lightning speed Thomas Seymour lifted him out of
the saddle! And the proud Earl Surrey, the wise and learned man, the
powerful party leader, was forced to bow before the hero, who like an
angel Michael had thrown him in the dust."

The queen laughed.

That laugh went through Jane's heart like a cutting sword.

"She shall pay me for that!" said she softly to herself. "Queen," said
she aloud, "you are perfectly right; he has deserved this humiliation;
but now, after he is