"I would this might last for ever, my little sweetheart----"
"For ever!" she repeated. "For ever! Why not?"
He had not the heart to cast a shadow on that joy. Why tell her nothing lasts for ever? And so he only answered, "Why not?"
On the morrow the order came: "Back to Somerset House; the air is purified; Christmas is coming; you must come back."
Before leaving, the princess sent for Reginald Newbolt and his sister, and they bade each other farewell. "It will not be for long," said the princess. "I will ask my mother, the queen, to make you one of her maids of honour, Mistress Ann; so you may live with us, for I have taken a great liking to you."
"I am afraid the queen will not favour me," was the quiet answer. "I have not been brought up after your foreign fashion. I do not know your ways or manners. I am a plain English girl."
"Oh, that does not matter at all! We have many English ladies in our suite, and the queen loves them well."
"But my mother would not let me dwell in the queen's household; she says it is godless," said Ann, colouring deeply; "it would, I think, break her heart."
"Ah well," said Henrietta carelessly, "you must please yourself if you are so over-strict."
"Say rather, I must obey my mother," answered Ann; "but nevertheless I am grateful to you and thank you." And she stooped and kissed the princess's hand. So they parted.