"Or you thought, perhaps, I did not know that this was your
birthday, and that to-day my Elizabeth advances from the years of
childhood, as a proud maiden full of hope?"
"Full of hope?" said Elizabeth, sadly. "Anne Boleyn's daughter has
no hopes: and when you speak of my birthday, you remind me at the
same time of my despised birth!"
"It shall be despised no longer!" said Catharine, and, as she put
her arm tenderly around Elizabeth's neck, she handed her a roll of
parchment.
"Take that, Elizabeth; and may this paper be to you the promise of a
joyful and brilliant future! At my request, the king has made this
law, and he therefore granted me the pleasure of bringing it to
you."
Elizabeth opened the parchment and read, and a radiant expression
overspread her countenance.
"Acknowledged! I am acknowledged!" cried she. "The disgrace of my
birth is taken away! Elizabeth is no more a bastard--she is a royal
princess!"
"And she may some day be a queen!" said Catharine, smiling.
"Oh," cried Elizabeth, "it is not that which stirs me with such joy.
But the disgrace of my birth is taken away; and I may freely hold up
my head and name my mother's name! Now thou mayst sleep calmly in
thy grave, for it is no longer dishonored! Anne Boleyn was no
strumpet; she was King Henry's lawful wife, and Elizabeth is the
king's legitimate daughter! I thank Thee, my God--I thank Thee!" And
the young, passionate girl threw herself on her knees, and raised
her hands and her eyes to heaven.
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