for our own sake, neither for our cousin of Kent, but for yours,
that we would fain sway you unto a better mind. Nor need you count,
fair Cousin, that your denial should let by so much as one day our
cousin of Kent his bridal with the Lady Lucy. We do you to wit that you
stand but in your own light. Your marriage is annulled. What good then
shall come of your 'knowledgment, saving your own easement? But for
other sake, if ye do persist yet in your unwisdom, we must needs make
note of you as a disobedient subject."

There was silence again, only broken by the quiet regular dripping of
the water-clock in a corner of the room. Silence, until Custance sank
slowly on her knees, and buried her face upon the cushion of the settle.

"God, help me; for I have none other help!" sobbed the agitated voice.
"Help me to make this unceli [miserable] choice betwixt wrong and wrong,
betwixt sorrow and sorrow!"

A less impulsive and demonstrative woman would not have spoken her
thoughts aloud. But Custance wore her heart upon her sleeve. What
wonder if the daws pecked at it?

"Not betwixt wrong and wrong, fair Cousin," responded the cool voice of
the King. "Rather, betwixt wrong and right. Nor betwixt sorrow and
sorrow, but betwixt sorrow and pleasance."

With another sudden change in her mood, Custance lifted her head, and
asked in a tone which was almost peremptory--

"Is it the desire of my Lord himself that I be present?"

To reply in the affirmative was to lie; for Kent was entirely innocent
and ignorant of the King's demand. But what mattered a few lies, when
Archbishop Arundel, the fountain of absolution, was seated in the
banquet-hall? So Henry had no scruple in answering unconcernedly--

"It is our cousin of Kent his most earnest desire."

"And yet once more," she said, fixing her eyes upon him, as if to watch
the expression of his face while she put her test-question. "Yonder
writ of excommunication:--was it verily and indeed forth against Sir
Ademar de Milford, the Sunday afore I was wed?"

Did she expect to read any admission of fraud in that handsome
passionless face? If she did, she found herself utterly mistaken.

"Fair Cousin, have ye so unworthy thoughts of your friends? Certes, the
writ was forth."

"My friends! where be my friends?--The writ was forth?"

"Assuredly."

"Then wreak your will--you and Satan together!"

"How conceive we by that, fair Cousin?" inquired the King rather
satiri