rine
cheerily, as with light, elastic step she passed through the hall to the
courtyard.

"Here is something going on which I must fathom!" muttered John Heywood,
who had left the hall with the rest. "A mousetrap is set, for the cats
remain at home, and are hungry for their prey."

Lady Jane had remained behind in the hall with her father. Both had
stepped to the window, and were silently looking down into the yard,
where the brilliant cavalcade of the queen and her suite was moving
about in motley confusion.

Catharine had just mounted her palfrey; the noble animal, recognizing
his mistress, neighed loudly, and, giving a snort, reared up with his
noble burden.

Princess Elizabeth, who was close to the queen, uttered a cry of alarm.
"You will fall, queen," said she, "you ride such a wild animal."

"Oh, no, indeed," said Catharine, smiling; "Hector is not wild. It is
with him as with me. This charming May air has made us both mettlesome
and happy. Away, then, my ladies and lords! our horses must be to-day
swift as birds. We ride to Epping Forest."

And through the open gateway dashed the cavalcade. The queen in front;
at her right, the Princess Elizabeth; at her left, the master of horse,
Thomas Seymour, Earl of Sudley.

When the train had disappeared, father and daughter stepped back from
the window, and looked at each other with strange, dark, and disdainful
looks.

"Well, Jane?" said Earl Douglas, at length. "She is still queen, and the
king becomes daily more unwieldy and ailing. It is time to give him a
seventh queen."

"Soon, my father, soon."

"Loves the queen Henry Howard at last?"

"Yes, he loves her!" said Jane, and her pale face was now colorless as a
winding-sheet.

"I ask, whether she loves him?"

"She will love him!" murmured Jane, and then suddenly mastering
herself, she continued: "but it is not enough to make the queen in love;
doubtless it would be still more efficient if some one could instill a
new love into the king. Did you see, father, with what ardent looks his
majesty yesterday watched me and the Duchess of Richmond?"

"Did I see it? The whole court talked about it."

"Well, now, my father, manage it so that the king may be heartily bored
to-day, and then bring him to me. He will find the Duchess of Richmond
with me."

"Ah, a glorious thought! You will surely be Henry's seventh queen."

"I will ruin Catharine Parr, for she is my rival, and I hate her!" said
Jane, with glow