“Oh, if it is so, as you say,” cried Catharine, “well, then would I teach the whole world to love my king as I do, and to be subject to him in humility, faithfulness, and obedience, as I am.”
And as she thus spoke, she threw both her arms about the king’s neck, and leaned her head with a languishing expression upon his breast.
The king kissed her, and pressed her fast to his heart. He thought no longer of the danger that was hovering over Catharine’s head; he thought only that he loved her, and that life would be very desolate, very tedious and sad without her.
“And now, my husband,” said Catharine, gently disengaging herself from him—“now, since I have confessed to you and received absolution from you—now let us go down into the garden, so that God’s bright sun may shine into our hearts fresh and glad. Come, my husband, your chair is ready; and the bees and the butterflies, the gnats and the flies, have already practised a hymn, with which they are going to greet you, my husband.”
Laughing and jesting, she drew him along to the adjoining room, where the courtiers and the rolling-chair were standing ready; and the king mounted his triumphal car, and allowed himself to be rolled through the carpeted corridors, and down the staircases, transformed into broad inclined planes of marble, into the garden.
The air had the freshness of winter and the warmth of spring. The grass like a diligent weaver was already beginning to weave a carpet over the black level of the square; and already here and there a tiny blossom, curious and bashful, was peeping out and appeared to be smiling in astonishment at its own premature existence. The sun seemed so warm and bright; the heavens were so blue!
At the king’s side went Catharine, with such rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes. Those eyes were always directed to her husband; and her charming prattle was to the king like the melodious song of birds, and made his heart leap for pleasure and delight. But how? What noise all at once drowned Catharine’s sweet prattle? And what was it that flashed up there at the end of that large alley which the royal pair with their suite had just entered?
It was the noise of soldiers advancing; and shining helmets and coats-of-mail flashed in the sunlight.
One band of soldiers held the outlet from the alley; another advanced up it in close order. At their head were seen striding along Gardiner and Earl Douglas, and at their side the lieutenant of the Tower.
The king’s countenance assumed a lowering and angry expression and his cheeks were suffused with crimson. With the quickness of youth he rose from his chair, and, raised to his full height, he looked with flaming eyes at the procession.