Thomas Seymour is the brother of a queen: why then should he not also be the husband of a royal princess ?" With a bashful blush, Elizabeth hid her smiling face in Catharine's bosom.

She did not see with what an expression of alarm and agony the queen observed her; how her lips were convulsively compressed, and her cheeks covered with a death-like pallor.
"And he ?" asked she, in a low tone.

"Does Thomas Seymour love you ?" Elizabeth raised her head and looked at the questioner in amazement "How!" said she.

"Is it possible, then, to love, if you are not loved ?" "You are right," sighed Catharine.

"One must be very humble and silly to be able to do that." "My God! how pale you are, queen!" cried Elizabeth, who just now noticed Catharine's pale face.