"I have been obliged so long to hide, so long to veil
thee! Now thou belongest to the world and to the light! The king has
acknowledged me as his lawful daughter; he cannot refuse me to have
a likeness of my mother in my room."
As she thus spoke, she pressed on a spring set in the broad gilt
frame of the picture; and suddenly the painting was seen to move and
slowly open like a door, so as to render visible another picture
concealed beneath it, which represented the unfortunate Anne Boleyn
in bridal attire, in the full splendor of her beauty, as Holbein had
painted her, at the desire of her husband the king.
"How beautiful and angelic that countenance is!" said Catharine,
stepping nearer. "How innocent and pure those features! Poor queen!
Yet thine enemies succeeded in casting suspicion on thee and
bringing thee to the scaffold. Oh, when I behold thee, I shudder;
and my own future rises up before me like a threatening spectre! Who
can believe herself safe and secure, when Anne Boleyn was not
secure; when even she had to die a dishonorable death? Ah, do but
believe me, Elizabeth, it is a melancholy lot to be Queen of
England; and often indeed have I asked the morning whether I, as
still Queen of England, shall greet the evening. But no--we will not
talk of myself in this hour, but only of you, Elizabeth--of your
future and of your fortune. May this document be acceptable to you,
and realize all the wishes that slumber in your bosom!"
"One great wish of mine it has fulfilled already," said Elizabeth,
still occupied with the picture.
Pages:
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363