“Once mine, I shall be in no haste to part with it,” observed Philip. “But have I no congratulations from your Majesty?” he added to the Queen. “Do you not rejoice with me on my good luck?”

“Your good luck is my misfortune,” rejoined Mary. “This unlooked-for act of the Emperor must cause our separation.”

“Only for a season,” returned Philip. “I must needs obey my father’s summons to Brussels; but I shall speedily return.”

“Impossible!” cried Mary. “As King of Spain, you will have much to do, and cannot quit your dominions, even if you should be so minded. No! I am not to be deceived. I cannot go to Spain, or to Flanders, and you will not come to England. Henceforward we must dwell apart.”

“Nay, nay, you are wrong, Madam—by my faith, you are!” cried Philip. “I shall return before three months have elapsed. Meantime, I confide you to the care of his Eminence, who, I trust, will be rarely absent from you. It is my wish,” he added, “that the Lord Cardinal be appointed chief of the Privy Council, and that nothing concerning the government of the realm be concluded without his sanction.”

“All shall be done as you desire,” rejoined Mary.

“Nay, Sire, I must decline a post for which I am unfitted,” said Pole, “and which, as it would necessarily engage me in concerns of the world, is little suited to the spiritual character with which I am invested.”

“But I will take no refusal,” said Philip. “You must, at least, accept the post till her Majesty is perfectly restored to health.”

“I shall have only your Eminence to look to when the King is gone,” said Mary. “If need be, I must lay my positive commands upon you.”

“In that case I have no alternative but submission,” rejoined the Cardinal. “The sole condition I would annex to my consent is, that I may be allowed to exercise my religious functions as heretofore.”