er from England.'--`And how camest thou hither?' quoth she. `As
reader of English unto the Queen's Highness,' said I. `How much hast
thou read unto the Queen?' she asked, and smiled.

"Her smile lighted up her face marvellously. It was not a fair face. I
misdoubt if it were ever such. Her hair is near white now; but though
her complexion were good, and her eyes shining and dark grey, her
features must have been alway something harsh and strong. `Nothing at
all, Senora,' then said I; `for it is now three months sithence
my coming, and yet had I never the honour to see her
Highness.'--`Traitors!' quoth she angrily; and her features grew harsher
than ever. I stood in silence. `Thou art not a Lutheran?' she said
suddenly. `Methinks it should fare ill, Senora, with any that were so
here,' I made answer, desiring to be discreet. `Is that any answer to
my question?' she said, knitting her brows. `Senora,' said I, trembling
greatly, `I cannot tell a lie, even though you may betray me. I am a
Lutheran.'--`I betray thee!' she said pitifully. `Poor child! whoso
doth that, it will not be I. I am under the same ban.'--`Senora!' I
cried, much astonied, `you are a Lutheran? here, in the Queen's
Palace.'--`Doth that amaze thee?' she answered with another smile.
`Then a second thing I can tell thee will do so yet more:--I am the
Queen.'

"I set myself upon my knees afore her Highness, so soon as my
astonishment would give me leave. `They do not burn me,' she said, in
the slow uncertain way wherein she had spoken at first. `I think they
scarce liked to do that. But I had suffered less; for then it had been
over long ago. They say I am mad. And it doth seem sometimes as if
somewhat in my head were lost,' she saith, pressing her hands wearily
upon her brow. `It was Dona Isabel, my mother. She used to give me the
_cuerda_!'--`Senora,' I answered, `craving your Highness' pardon, I,
being a maid from strange parts, know not that word _cuerda_!'--`Have
they the thing in your land?' answered the Queen heavily. `Did they try
that on my poor sister, your Princess of Wales [Katherine of Aragon]?
_Ay de mi_!'--`I know not,' said I, `under the gracious pleasure of your
Highness, what the thing is.'--`Look!' she said, pointing with her thin,
trembling hand.

"I looked whither she pointed, and in the further corner of the chamber
I saw a frame of pulleys set in the ceiling. But it came not presently
to my mind wherefore they