But, already upon the threshold, she returned once more.
"Forgive me, queen, for venturing to make one more request of you.

You have, however, just shown yourself too much the noble and true friend of earlier days for me not to venture one more request." "Now, what is it, poor Jane ?" "I have intrusted my secret not to the queen, but to Catharine Parr, the friend of my youth.

Will she keep it, and betray to none my disgrace and humiliation ?" "My word for that, Jane.

Nobody but God and ourselves shall ever know what we have spoken." Lady Jane humbly kissed her hand and murmured a few words of thanks; then she left the queen's room to go in quest of the master of ceremonies.
In the queen's anteroom she stopped a moment, and leaned against the wall, exhausted, and as it were crushed.

Nobody was here who could observe and listen to her.