her father, who was
now Earl of Wiltshire, obtained admittance to her.

"You have a troubled look, my dear lord," she said, as she motioned him
to a seat.

"And with good reason," he replied. "Oh, Anne! words cannot express my
anxiety at the present state of things."

"It will speedily pass by, my lord," she replied; "the king will soon be
tired of his new idol."

"Not before he has overthrown the old one, I fear," rejoined the earl.
"Jane Seymour's charms have usurped entire sovereignty over him. With
all her air of ingenuousness and simplicity, the minion is artful and
dangerous She has a high mark, I am persuaded--no less than the throne."

"But Henry cannot wed her--he cannot divorce me," said Anne.

"So thought Catherine of Arragon," replied her father; "and yet she was
divorced. Anne, I am convinced a plot is hatching against you."

"You do not fear for my life, father?" she cried, trembling.

"I trust there are no grounds for charges against you by which it might
be brought in jeopardy," replied the earl gravely.

"None, father--none!" she exclaimed.

"I am glad of it," rejoined the earl; "for I have heard that the king
said to one who suggested another divorce to him, 'No, if the queen
comes within the scope of the divorce, she also comes within the pale of
the scaffold.'"

"A pledge was extorted from him to that effect," said Anne, in a hollow
voice.

"That an attempt will be made against you, I firmly believe," replied
the earl; "but if you are wholly innocent you have nothing to fear."

"Oh, father! I know not that," cried Anne. "Innocence avails little with
the stony-hearted Henry."

"It will prove your best safeguard," said the earl. "And now farewell,
daughter! Heaven guard you! Keep the strictest watch upon yourself."

So saying, he quitted the apartment, and as soon as she was left alone,
the unhappy Anne burst into an agony of tears.

From this state of affliction she was roused by hearing her own name
pronounced in low accents, and looking up, she beheld Sir Henry Norris.

"Oh, Norris!" she said, in a tone of reproach, "you have come hither to
destroy me."

"No one knows of my coming," he said; "at least, no one who will betray
me. I was brought hither by one who will take care we are not observed."

"By Herne?" demanded Anne.

Norris answered in the affirmative.

"Would you had never leagued yourself with him!" she cried; "I fear the
rash act will bring destruction upon us bo