Certainly the king loves you." Catharine seized her hand impulsively.

"The king loves me," whispered she, "and I, I tremble before him.

Yes, more than that, his love fills me with horror! His hands are dipped in blood, and as I saw him to-day in his crimson robes I shuddered, and I thought, How soon, and my blood, too, will dye this crimson!" Jane smiled.

"You are sick, Catharine," said she.

"This good fortune has taken you by surprise, and your overstrained nerves now depict before you all sorts of frightful forms.