ther, and love each other as sisters!"

And as she imprinted a warm kiss on Elizabeth's lips, she continued:
"But now, princess, direct your looks once more to that document, of
which at first you read only the beginning. Do but believe me, it is
important enough for you to read it quite to the end; for it contains
various arrangements for your future, and settles on you a suite and a
yearly allowance, as is suitable for a royal princess."

"Oh, what care I for these things?" cried Elizabeth, merrily. "That is
my major-domo's concern, and he may attend to it."

"But there is yet another paragraph that will interest you more,"
said Catharine, with a slight smile; "for it is a full and complete
reparation to my proud and ambitious Elizabeth. You recollect the answer
which your father gave to the King of France when he solicited your hand
for the dauphin?"

"Do I recollect it!" cried Elizabeth, her features quickly becoming
gloomy. "King Henry said: 'Anne Boleyn's daughter is not worthy to
accept the hand of a royal prince.'"

"Well, then, Elizabeth, that the reparation made to you may be complete,
the king, while he grants you your lawful title and honor, has decreed
that you are permitted to marry only a husband of equal birth; to give
your hand only to a royal prince, if you would preserve your right of
succeeding to the throne, Oh, certainly, there could be no more complete
recantation of the affront once put upon you. And that he consented
to do this, you owe to the eloquent intercession of a true and trusty
friend; you have John Hey wood to thank for it."

"John Heywood!" cried Elizabeth, in a bitter tone.

"Oh, I thank you, queen, that it was not you who determined my father to
this decision. John Heywood did it, and you call him my friend? You
say that he is a true and devoted servant to us both? Beware of his
fidelity, queen, and build not on his devotedness; for I tell you his
soul is full of falsehood; and while he appears to bow before you in
humbleness, his eyes are only searching for the place on your heel where
he can strike you most surely and most mortally. Oh, he is a serpent, a
venomous serpent; and he has just wounded me mortally and incurably. But
no," continued she, energetically, "I will not submit to this fraud; I
will not be the slave of this injurious law! I will be free to love and
to hate as my heart demands; I will not be shackled, nor be compelled
to renounce this man, whom I perhaps lo