"Good-bye, my lord; good-bye!" cried she. "Heaven bless and prosper you!" and with the utmost tranquillity she watched him approach the door. "Now, shall I let him go or not?" said she. "Oh woman! woman! you are a great fool! Darby! Darby!" she added in a soft voice, "come back to your Katrine."
Lord Darby turned back and caught her in his arms. "Dear teasing girl!" cried he; "why, why will you strive to wring a heart that loves you?"
"Nay, Darby, if things were rightly stated, it is I who have cause to be offended rather than you," answered the lady. "What right had you, sir, to think that the heart of Katrine Bulmer was so base, so mean, as to be changed by the possession of a few paltry counters? Own that you have done me wrong this instant, or I will never forgive you. Down upon your knee! a kneeling confession, or you are condemned beyond hope of grace."
Lord Darby was fain to obey his gay lady's behest, and bending his knee, he freely confessed himself guilty of all the crimes she thought proper to charge him withal; in the midst of which, however, he was interrupted by the entrance of an attendant sent by the queen to call Lady Katrine to her presence.
The lady laughed and blushed at being found with Lord Darby at her feet; and the earl, not particularly well pleased at the interruption, turned to the usher, saying, with the sort of nonchalant air which he often assumed, "Well, sir, before you go, tell the lady when it was you last found me on my knees to any of the fair dames of the court."
"Never, my lord, so please you, that I know of," answered the man, somewhat surprised.
"Well, then," rejoined Darby, "next time knock at the door, for fear you should. In which case, you might chance to be thrown down stairs by the collar."
"Hush, hush, Darby!" cried Lady Katrine; "I must go to her highness. Doubtless we shall not meet again for a long while; so fare you well!" and tripping away after the usher, without other adieu, she left her lover to console himself in her absence as best he might.
On entering the queen's apartment, she found her royal mistress alone with the king, and, according to the etiquette of that day, was drawing back instantly, when Katherine called her forward. "Come hither, my wild namesake," said the queen; "his grace the king wishes to speak with you. Come near, and answer him all his questions."
Lady Katrine advanced, and kneeling on a velvet cushion at Henry's feet, prepared to reply to whatever he might ask, with as much propriety as she could command; although the glad news of the morning had raised her spirits to a pitch of uncontrollable joyousness, which even the presence of the imperious monarch himself could hardly keep within bounds.