t
any sacrifice--doubly so if it were buying happiness for two."

His meaning was too plain even to pretend to misunderstand, and Mary's
eyes flashed at him, as her face broke into a dimpling smile in spite
of her.

Wolsey thought he had won, and to clinch the victory said, in his
forceful manner: "Louis XII will not live a year; let me carry to the
king your consent, and I guarantee you his promise as to a second
marriage."

In an instant Mary's eyes shot fire, and her face was like the
blackest storm cloud.

"Carry this to the king: that I will see him and the whole kingdom
sunk in hell before I will marry Louis of France. That is my answer
once and for all. Good even', Master Wolsey." And she swept out of the
room with head up and dilating nostrils, the very picture of defiance.

St. George! She must have looked superb. She was one of the few
persons whom anger and disdain and the other passions which we call
ungentle seemed to illumine--they were so strong in her, and yet not
violent. It seemed that every deep emotion but added to her beauty and
brought it out, as the light within a church brings out the exquisite
figuring on the windows.

[Illustration]

After Wolsey had gone, Jane said to Mary: "Don't you think it would
have been better had you sent a softer answer to your brother? I
believe you could reach his heart even now if you were to make the
effort. You have not tried in this matter as you did in the others."

"Perhaps you are right, Jane. I will go to Henry."

Mary waited until she knew the king was alone, and then went to him.

On entering the room, she said: "Brother, I sent a hasty message to
you by the Bishop of Lincoln this morning, and have come to ask your
forgiveness."

"Ah! little sister; I thought you would change your mind. Now you are
a good girl."

"Oh! do not misunderstand me; I asked your forgiveness for the
message; as to the marriage, I came to tell you that it would kill me
and that I could not bear it. Oh! brother, you are not a woman--you
cannot know." Henry flew into a passion, and with oaths and curses
ordered her to leave him unless she was ready to give her consent. She
had but two courses to take, so she left with her heart full of hatred
for the most brutal wretch who ever sat upon a throne--and that is
making an extreme case. As she was going, she turned upon him like a
fury, and exclaimed:

"Never, never! Do you hear? Never!"

Preparations went on for the ma