I will at least sell my life as dearly as
possible; and the maxim which Cranmer has given me shall hereafter
be my guide on the thorny path of life."
"And how runs this maxim?" asked Jane.
"Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves," replied Catharine, with
a languid smile, as she dropped her head upon her breast and
surrendered herself to her painful and foreboding reflections.
Lady Jane stood opposite to her, and gazed with cruel composure upon
the painfully convulsed countenance and at times violently trembling
form of the young queen for whom all England that day kept festival,
and who yet was sitting before her so wretched and full of sorrow.
Suddenly Catharine raised her head. Her countenance had now assumed
an entirely different expression. It was now firm, resolute, and
dauntless. With a slight inclination of the head she extended her
hand to Lady Jane, and drew her friend more closely to her.
"I thank you, Jane," said she, as she imprinted a kiss upon her
forehead--"I thank you! You have done my heart good and relieved it
of its oppressive load of secret anguish. He who can give his grief
utterance, is already half cured of it. I thank you, then, Jane!
Henceforth, you will find me calm and cheerful. The woman has wept
before you, but the queen is aware that she has a task to accomplish
as difficult as it is noble, and I give you my word for it, she will
accomplish it. The new light which has risen on the world shall no
more be dimmed by blood and tears, and no more in this unhappy land
shall men of sense and piety be condemned as insurgents and
traitors! This is the task which God has set me, and I swear that I
will accomplish it! Will you help me in this, too, Jane?"
Lady Jane responded faintly in a few words, which Catharine did not
understand, and as she looked up to her, she noticed, with
astonishment, the corpse-like pallor which had suddenly overspread
the countenance of her maid of honor.
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