, my husband," said she, with a smile; "but
yet I am nothing more than your little Puck, who bustles about you, and
now and then makes you laugh with his drolleries."

"And a dear little Puck you are, Katie," cried the king, who always
gazed upon his wife's rosy and fresh countenance with real satisfaction.

"Then I will prove myself this very day your Puck, and allow you no more
repose on your couch," said she, as she made a mock effort to raise him
up. "Do you know, my husband, why I came here? A butterfly has tapped
at my window. Only think now, a butterfly in winter! That betokens that
this time winter is spring; and the clerk of the weather above there has
confounded January with March. The butterfly has invited us, king; and
only see! the sun is winking into the window to us, and says we have but
to come out, as he has already dried the walks in the garden below, and
called forth a little grass on the plat. And your rolling chair stands
all ready, my lord and husband, and your Puck, as you see, has already
put on her furs, and clad herself in armor against the winter, which,
however, is not there!"

"Well, then, help me, my dearest Puck, so that I can arise, and obey
the command of the butterfly and the sun and my lovely wife," cried
the king, as he put his arm around Catharine's neck, and slowly raised
himself from the couch.

She busied herself about him with officious haste; she put her arm
tenderly on his shoulder and supported him, and properly arranged for
him the gold chain, which had slipped out of place on his doublet, and
playfully plaited the lace ruff which was about his neck.

"Is it your order, my husband, that your servants come?--the master of
ceremonies, who, without doubt, awaits your back in the anteroom--the
lord bishop--who a while ago made such a black-looking face at me? But
how! my husband, your face, too, is now in an eclipse? How? Has your
Puck perchance said something to put you out of tune?"

"No, indeed!" said the king, gloomily; but he avoided meeting her
smiling glance and looking in her rosy face.

The evil thoughts had again awoke in him; and he now remembered the
warrant of arrest that he had given Gardiner. He remembered it, and
he regretted it. For she was so fair and lovely--his young queen; she
understood so well by her jests to smooth away care from his brow, and
affright vexation from his soul--she was such an agreeable and sprightly
pastime, such a refreshing means o