"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.