l your face!" said he, in a tone of command. She did not stir. She
murmured a prayer, then raised her clasped hands to Henry and in a low
moan, said: "Mercy! mercy!"

He extended his hand and seized the veil.

"Mercy!" repeated she, in a voice of still deeper supplication--of still
greater distress.

But he was inexorable. He tore the veil from her face and stared at her.
Then with a wild shriek he reeled back and covered his face with his
hands.

Jane Douglas durst not breathe or stir. She was pale as marble; her
large, burning eyes were fastened with an unutterable expression of
entreaty upon her lover, who stood before her with covered head, and
crushed with anguish. She loved him more than her life, more than her
eternal salvation; and yet she it was that had brought him to this hour
of agony.

At length Earl Surrey let his hands fall from his face, and with a
fierce movement dashed the tears from his eyes.

As he looked at her, Jane Douglas wholly involuntarily sank upon her
knees, and raised her hands imploringly to him. "Henry Howard," said
she, in a low whisper, "I am Geraldine! Me have you loved; my letters
have you read with ecstasy, and to me have you often sworn that you
loved my mind yet more than my appearance. And often has my heart been
filled with rapture, when you told me you would love me however my face
might change, however old age or sickness might alter my features. You
remember, Henry, how I once asked you whether you would cease to love
me, if now God suddenly put a mask before my face, so that you could not
recognize my features. You replied to me: 'Nevertheless, I should love
and adore you; for what in you ravishes me, is not your face, but you
yourself--yourself with your glorious being and nature. It is your soul
and your heart which can never change, which lie before me like a holy
book, clear and bright!' That was your reply to me then, as you swore
to love me eternally. Henry Howard, I now remind you of your oath! I am
your Geraldine. It is the same soul, the same heart; only God has put a
mask upon my face!"

Earl Surrey had listened to her with eager attention, with increasing
amazement.

"It is she! It is really!" cried he, as she ceased. "It is Geraldine!"

And wholly overcome, wholly speechless with anguish, he sank into a
seat.

Geraldine flew to him; she crouched at his feet; she seized his drooping
hand and covered it with kisses. And amid streaming tears, often
inte