[Henry VIII And His Court by Louise Muhlbach]@TWC D-Link book
Henry VIII And His Court

CHAPTER XXXV
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The butterfly has invited us, king; and only see! the sun is winking into the window to us, and says we have but to come out, as he has already dried the walks in the garden below, and called forth a little grass on the plat.

And your rolling chair stands all ready, my lord and husband, and your Puck, as you see, has already put on her furs, and clad herself in armor against the winter, which, however, is not there!" "Well, then, help me, my dearest Puck, so that I can arise, and obey the command of the butterfly and the sun and my lovely wife," cried the king, as he put his arm around Catharine's neck, and slowly raised himself from the couch.
She busied herself about him with officious haste; she put her arm tenderly on his shoulder and supported him, and properly arranged for him the gold chain, which had slipped out of place on his doublet, and playfully plaited the lace ruff which was about his neck.
"Is it your order, my husband, that your servants come ?--the master of ceremonies, who, without doubt, awaits your back in the anteroom--the lord bishop--who a while ago made such a black-looking face at me?
But how! my husband, your face, too, is now in an eclipse?
How?
Has your Puck perchance said something to put you out of tune ?" "No, indeed!" said the king, gloomily; but he avoided meeting her smiling glance and looking in her rosy face.
The evil thoughts had again awoke in him; and he now remembered the warrant of arrest that he had given Gardiner.

He remembered it, and he regretted it.

For she was so fair and lovely--his young queen; she understood so well by her jests to smooth away care from his brow, and affright vexation from his soul--she was such an agreeable and sprightly pastime, such a refreshing means of driving away ennui.
Not for her sake did he regret what he had done, but only on his own account.

From selfishness alone, he repented having issued that order for the queen's imprisonment.


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