Only do not yourself make it impossible,
that there may then be a full and glorious reparation. PRINCESS
Elizabeth may yet one day be queen, provided she has not exchanged
her name for one less glorious and noble."
"John Heywood," said she, with a bewitching smile, "I have told you
I love him."
"Well, love him as much as you please, but do it in silence, and
tell him not of it; but teach your love resignation."
"John, he knows it already."
"Ah, poor princess! you are still but a child, that sticks its hands
in the fire with smiling bravery and scorches them, because it knows
not that fire burns."
"Let it burn, John, burn! and let the flames curl over my head!
Better be consumed in fire than perish slowly and horribly with a
deadly chill! I love him, I tell you, and he already knows it!"
"Well, then, love him, but, at least, do not marry him!" cried John
Heywood, surlily.
"Marry!" cried she, with astonishment. "Marry! I had never thought
of it."
She dropped her head upon her breast, and stood there, silent and
thoughtful.
"I am much afraid I made a blunder, then!" muttered John Heywood. "I
have suggested a new thought to her. Ah, ah, King Henry has done
well in appointing me his fool! Just when we deem ourselves the
wisest, we are the greatest fools!"
"John," said Elizabeth, as she raised her head again and smiled to
him in a glow of excitement, "John, you are entirely right; if we
love, we must marry.
Pages:
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206