"To-morrow thou wilt be in Paradise, sire," replied Juxon firmly, and a sincere hope and courage shone in his eyes, which were red and swollen with weeping.
"I die for the Church of England," said the King quickly. "They may say what they will, but if I had abandoned Episcopacy I might have lived."
"God knoweth it," answered the Bishop solemnly, "and men will know it after a little while."
Charles took up his hat, his gloves, his cane, and without speaking followed the Bishop into the little royal chapel where he had so often worshipped in happier times.
He took the Sacrament; when the ceremony was over a calm, almost a lethargy, fell on his spirits; he tried to think of great and tremendous things, of what was behind him and what was before him, but his brain slipped from them; even the Queen had become absolutely remote. He found himself wondering how Strafford had felt at this same moment in his life.
When he left the chapel he went to one of the antechambers and waited.
Trivial things attracted his attention: he noticed that the ceiling needed repainting, and, looking down at his collar of the George, the foolish thought occurred to him as he saw the enamelled blossoms that he would never behold real roses again, for this was winter and there would be no flowers in the park which he would have to pass through.
He wished that he could fix his mind on something high and splendid now there was so little longer left in which to think of anything, and it distressed him that he could not.
None of this appeared in his demeanour; he sat, looking very stately and noble, with his cloak wrapped round him for the cold and his cane in his hand.