Say, Catharine--say, will you lend me your
assistance? Will you induce the king to withdraw this hated clause?
If you do it not, queen, I swear to you, by the soul of my mother,
that I will not submit to this law; that I will solemnly, before all
the world, renounce the privilege that is offered me; that I--"
"You are a dear, foolish child," interrupted Catharine--"a child,
that in youthful presumption might dare wish to fetch the lightnings
down from heaven, and borrow from Jupiter his thunderbolt. Oh, you
are still too young and inexperienced to know that fate regards not
our murmurs and our sighs, and, despite our reluctance and our
refusal, still leads us in its own ways, not our own. You will have
to learn that yet, poor child!"
"But I will not!" cried Elizabeth, stamping on the floor with all
the pettishness of a child. "I will not ever and eternally be the
victim of another's will; and fate itself shall not have power to
make me its slave!"
"Well, we will see now," said Catharine, smiling. "We will try this
time, at least, to contend against fate; and I will assist you if I
can."
"And I will love you for it as my mother and my sister at once,"
cried Elizabeth, as with ardor she threw herself into Catharine's
arms. "Yes, I will love you for it; and I will pray God that He may
one day give me the opportunity to show my gratitude, and to reward
you for your magnanimity and goodness."
CHAPTER XXVIII.
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