then you will still wish to elevate him whom
you now love, to be your husband? A queen, as you will be, sees with
other eyes than those of a young, inexperienced maiden. Perchance I may
not have done right in moving the king to alter this law; for I am
not acquainted with the man that you love; and who knows whether he is
worthy that you should bestow on him your heart, so innocent and pure?"

Elizabeth threw both her arms about Catharine's neck, and clung tenderly
to her. "Oh," said she, "he would be worthy to be loved even by you,
Catharine; for he is the noblest and handsomest cavalier in the whole
world; and though he is no king, yet he is a king's brother-in-law, and
will some day be a king's uncle."

Catharine felt her heart, as it were, convulsed, and a slight tremor ran
through her frame. "And am I not to learn his name?" asked she.

"Yes, I will tell you it now; for now there is no longer danger in
knowing it. The name of him whom I love, queen, is Thomas Seymour."

Catharine uttered a scream, and pushed Elizabeth passionately away from
her heart. "Thomas Seymour?" cried she, in a menacing tone. "What! do
you dare love Thomas Seymour?"

"And why should I not dare?" asked the young girl in astonishment. "Why
should I not give him my heart, since, thanks to your intercession, I
am no longer bound to choose a husband of equal birth? Is not Thomas
Seymour one of the first of this land? Does not all England look on
him with pride and tenderness? Does not every woman to whom he deigns
a look, feel herself honored? Does not the king himself smile and
feel more pleased at heart, when Thomas Seymour, that young, bold, and
spirited hero, stands by his side?"

"You are right!" said Catharine, whose heart every one of these
enthusiastic words, lacerated like the stab of a dagger--"yes, you are
right. He is worthy of being loved by you--and you could hit upon no
better choice. It was only the first surprise that made me see things
otherwise than they are. Thomas Seymour is the brother of a queen: why
then should he not also be the husband of a royal princess?"

With a bashful blush, Elizabeth hid her smiling face in Catharine's
bosom. She did not see with what an expression of alarm and agony the
queen observed her; how her lips were convulsively compressed, and her
cheeks covered with a death-like pallor.

"And he?" asked she, in a low tone. "Does Thomas Seymour love you?"

Elizabeth raised her head and looked at