have exceeded all expectations. Catherine
stiffened as if the blow dealt her had been physical. Gradually her
face paled until it was grey and drawn; tears of outraged pride and
mortification flooded her eyes. And then, as if something snapped within
her brain under this stress of bitter emotion, blood gushed from her
nostrils, and she sank back in a swoon into the arms of her Portuguese
ladies.

Confusion followed, and under cover of it Charles and his light of
love withdrew, realizing that if he lingered not all his easy skill in
handling delicate situations could avail him to save his royal dignity.

Naturally the experiment was not to be repeated. But since it was his
wish that the Countess of Castlemaine should be established as one of
the Queen's ladies--or, rather, since it was her ladyship's wish, and
since Charles was as wax in her ladyship's hands--it became necessary to
have the Queen instructed in what was, in her husband's view, fitting.
For this task he selected Clarendon. But the Chancellor, who had so long
and loyally played Mentor to Charles's Telemachus, sought now to guide
him in matters moral as he had hitherto guided him in matters political.

Clarendon declined the office of mediator, and even expostulated with
Charles upon the unseemliness of the course upon which his Majesty was
bent.

"Surely, sire, it is for her Majesty to say who shall and who shall not
be the ladies of her bedchamber. And I nothing marvel at her decision in
this instance."

"Yet I tell you, my lord, that it is a decision that shall be revoked."

"By whom, sire?" the Chancellor asked him gravely.

"By her Majesty, of course."

"Under coercion, of which you ask me to be the instrument," said
Clarendon, in the tutorly manner he had used with the King from the
latter's boyhood. "Yourself, sire, at a time when your own wishes did
not warp your judgment, have condemned the very thing that now you
are urging. Yourself, sire, hotly blamed your cousin, King Louis, for
thrusting Mademoiselle de Valliere upon his queen. You will not have
forgotten the things you said then of King Louis."

Charles remembered those unflattering criticisms which he was now
invited to apply to his own case. He bit his lip, admitting himself in
check.

But anon--no doubt in obedience to the overbearing suasion of my Lady
Castlemaine--he returned to the attack, and sent the Chancellor his
orders in a letter demanding unquestioning obedience.

"