the voice of the master of ceremonies trembled slightly, as he
now read, "To the place of high chamberlain to the queen, his majesty
appoints my Lord Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey."

An approving murmur was heard, and almost all faces manifested glad
surprise.

"He has a great many friends," muttered the king. "He is dangerous,
then!" An angry look darted from his eyes upon the young earl, who was
now approaching the queen, to bend his knee before her and to press to
his lips the proffered hand.

Behind the queen stood Lady Jane, and as she beheld thus close before
her the young man, so handsome, so long yearned for, and so secretly
adored; and as she thought of her oath, she felt a violent pang, raging
jealousy, killing hatred toward the young queen, who had, it is true,
without suspecting it, robbed her of the loved one, and condemned her to
the terrible torture of pandering to her.

The chief master of ceremonies now read in a loud solemn voice, "To the
place of master of horse, his majesty appoints my Lord Thomas Seymour,
Earl of Sudley."

It was very well that the king had at that moment directed his whole
attention to his courtiers, and sought to read in their appearance the
impression made by this nomination.

Had he observed his consort, he would have seen that an expression
of delighted surprise flitted across Catharine's countenance, and a
charming smile played round her lips.

But the king, as we have said, thought only of his court; he saw only
that the number of those who rejoiced at Seymour's appointment did not
come up to that of those who received Surrey's nomination with so much
applause.

Henry frowned and muttered to himself, "These Howards are too powerful.
I will keep a watchful eye upon them."

Thomas Seymour approached the queen, and, bending his knee before her,
kissed her hand. Catharine received him with a gracious smile. "My
lord," said she, "you will at once enter on service with me, and indeed,
as I hope, in such manner as will be acceptable to the whole court. My
lord, take the fleetest of your coursers, and hasten to Castle Holt,
where the Princess Elizabeth is staying. Carry her this letter from her
royal father, and she will follow you hither. Tell her that I long to
embrace in her a friend and sister, and that I pray her to pardon me if
I cannot give up to her exclusively the heart of her king and father,
but that I also must still keep a place in the same for myself. Hasten