r, what is it?
What means this about the king's command, and what matrimonial scheme
have you women been again contriving? For I well know that you and my
mother have no rest with the thought of seeing me still unmarried. You
want to bestow on me, whether or no, the happiness of marriage; yet,
nevertheless, it appears to me that you both have sufficiently learned
from experience that this happiness is only imaginary, and that marriage
in reality is, at the very least, the vestibule of hell."

"It is true," laughed the duchess; "the only happy moment of my married
life was when my husband died. For in that I am more fortunate than my
mother, who has her tyrant still living about her. Ah, how I pity my
mother!"

"Dare not to revile our noble father!" cried the earl, almost
threateningly. "God alone knows how much he has suffered from our
mother, and how much he still suffers. He is not to blame for this
unhappy marriage. But you have not come to talk over these sad and
disgraceful family matters, sister! You wish to warn me, did you say?"

"Yes, warn you!" said the duchess, tenderly, as she took her brother's
hand and led him to the ottoman. "Come, let us sit down here, Henry, and
let us for once chat confidentially and cordially, as becomes brother
and sister. Tell me, who is Geraldine?"

"A phantom, an ideal! I have told you that already."

"You really love, then, no lady at this court?"

"No, none! There is among all these ladies, with whom the queen has
surrounded herself, not one whom I am able to love."

"Ah, your heart then is free, Henry; and you will be so much more easily
inclined to comply with the king's wish."

"What does the king wish?"

She laid her head on her brother's shoulder, and said in a low whisper:
"That the Howard and Seymour families be at last reconciled; that at
last they may reconcile the hatred, which has for centuries separated
them, by means of a firm and sincere bond of love."

"Ah, the king wants that!" cried the earl, scornfully.

"Forsooth, now, he has made a good beginning toward bringing about this
reconciliation. He has insulted me before all Europe, by removing me
from my command, and investing a Seymour with my rank and dignity; and
he requires that I in return shall love this arrogant earl, who has
robbed me of what is my due; who has long intrigued and besieged the
king's ears with lies and calumnies, till he has gained his end and
supplanted me."

"It is true the