When, however, they resorted to the chapel for the marriage,
Princess Elizabeth came forward to meet the queen, and offered her
hand.
It was the first time they had met since the dreadful day on which
they confronted each other as enemies--the first time that they had
again seen each other eye to eye.
Elizabeth had wrung this sacrifice from her heart. Her proud soul
revolted at the thought that Thomas Seymour might imagine that she
was still grieving for him, that she still loved him. She would show
him that her heart was entirely recovered from that first dream of
her youth--that she had not the least regret or pain.
She accosted him with a haughty, cold smile, and presented Catharine
her hand. "Queen," said she, "you have so long been a kind and
faithful mother to me, that I may well once more claim the right of
being your daughter. Let me, therefore, as your daughter, be present
at the solemn transaction in which you are about to engage; and
allow me to stand at your side and pray for you, whilst the
archbishop performs the sacred service, and transforms the queen
into the Countess of Sudley. May God bless you, Catharine, and give
you all the happiness that you deserve!"
And Princess Elizabeth knelt at Catharine's side, as the archbishop
blest this new marriage tie. And while she prayed her eye again
glided over toward Thomas Seymour, who was standing there by his
young wife. Catharine's countenance beamed with beauty and
happiness, but upon Thomas Seymour's brow still lay the cloud that
had settled there on that day when the king's will was opened--that
will which did not make Queen Catharine regent, and which thereby
destroyed Thomas Seymour's proud and ambitious schemes.
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