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

CHAPTER VII
2/37

For in a chamber, not far from that of the royal pair, one could perceive, from the bright beams streaming from the windows, in spite of the heavy damask curtains which veiled them, that the lights were not yet extinguished; and he who looked more closely would have observed that now and then a human shadow was portrayed upon the curtain.
So the occupant of this chamber had not yet gone to rest, and harassing must have been the thoughts which cause him to move so restlessly to and fro.
This chamber was occupied by Lady Jane Douglas, first maid of honor to the queen.

The powerful influence of Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, had seconded Catharine's wish to have near her the dear friend of her youth, and, without suspecting it, the queen had given a helping hand to bring nearer to their accomplishment the schemes which the hypocritical Gardiner was directing against her.
For Catharine knew not what changes had taken place in the character of her friend in the four years in which she had not seen her.

She did not suspect how fatal her sojourn in the strongly Romish city of Dublin had been to the easily impressible mind of her early playmate, and how much it had transformed her whole being.

Lady Jane, once so sprightly and gay, had become a bigoted Romanist, who, with fanatical zeal, believed that she was serving God when she served the Church, and paid unreserved obedience to her priests.
Lady Jane Douglas had therefore--thanks to her fanaticism and the teachings of the priests--become a complete dissembler.

She could smile, while in her heart she secretly brooded over hatred and revenge.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books