The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-30 00:00:00

PHILIP AND MARY.

(From the last instalment of Harrison .efinsworth' e new
Historical Romance in the forthcoming number of
Bentley's Miscellany.)
On this occasion Philip had laid aside his customary
black habiliments, and wore a doublet and hose of crimson
silk, with a robe of ()loth of gold. His boots were decked
with golden strings, and bordered with pearls. All the
grandees forming his entourage were dressed with extra-
ordinary magnificence, and made a most splendid display.
The abbess A St. Mary was attired in a long black gown,
the ample folds of which swept the ground. The sleeves of
her robe were loose, and over her shoulders was spread a
sable mantle, with a hood attached to it. A barbe of
plaited linen covered the lower part of her face, and with
the close-drawn hood, effectually concealed her features.
A suspicion in regard to the abbess which the Prince had
begun to entertain, being confirmed, he begged a word
with her in private, and on her ready assent, led her into
the deep recess of a bay window.
Entirely changing his manner towards her, he then said,
"I know not how to account for it, holy mother, but while
talking to you I could almost imagine myself engaged in
converse with her Majesty."
" A strange supposition," observed the abbess, in a
blander tone than before.
" It is the highest compliment I could pay you, pursued
Philip. " That you should resemble so admirable a sove-
reign is the best proof of your merit."
" I am much flattered by your Highness's good opinion,"
returned the abbess, still more blandly ; but how can you
tell that I am like the Queen, since you have never beheld
her Majesty?"
"I can perfectly judge by the many descriptions given
me of her," said the Prince. "In disposition I am sure
you are exactly like her. Remove p.ur hood, I pray you,
that I may see whether the resemblance extends to feature."
" I cannot comply with your Highness's request, as I
have a vow which prohibits me from disclosing my coun-
tenance to any of your sex," she replied, " But I will own
that I am like the Queen."
"I was quite sure of it," said Philip. "Permit me for
a moment to address you as her Majesty."
' Tic a strange whim," replied the abbess, complacently,
"and I ought not to consent to it. But your Highness is sin •
gularly persuasive. lam not without curiosity to know
what you would say to the Queen."
" What I have to say may sound like the language of
passion, and may not suit your ears," rejoined Philip.
" But as the Queen, I may listen to it," she rejoined,
with something of tenderises, in her tones.
" Then, I would throw myself at your feet, as I do now,',
cried Philip, kneeling as he spoke. " I would press your
hand to my lips, and assure you of my unalterable love and
fidelity. I woul tell ycu I have burned with Loptienee
to behold yea—how I have counted the hours of my long
voyage, and have rejoiced as each day brought me nearer to
you. In the strongest terms I could employ I would ex-
press my sense of the honour you have conferred upon me
in choosing me for your husband, and I would endea-
vour to convince you that it will be the chief business of
my life to increase your felicity and txtend your power.
Not a cloud shall overshadow you. future existence if I can
drive it away—but all shall be serenity and sunshine.
This is what I would say to the Queen," he added, rising.
" Your language is so impassioned, Prince," she re-
turned, " that I am almost as much moved as her Majesty
could be by your words. For the moment I will suppose
myself the Queen . _"
" It is so understood," interrupted Philip.
" I fear you feign this passion, Prince," she continued.
"To love one unknown, unseen, with the ardour you pro-
fess, is impossible, and yet I ought not to say so, for though
I have never beheld you till now, your image has long oc-
cupied my b-east. I hope you may not be disappointed in
me. It shall be my anxious study to win your affection by
entire devotion and submission to your will, and I trust,
with Heaven's grace, to succeed."
"Doubt it not," replied the Prince fervently. "You are
sole mistress of my heart, and will ever maintain paramount
sway over it,"

"I am foolish to ask it," she said, "yet I would fain
have your assurance that it is not my crown that has en-
ticed you hither F"
"hest easy ou that score," rejo ned the Prince, "You
yourself are the magnet that has attracted me. You would
have been as much prized without your kingdom as with
it."

"I cannot believe you—yet the assurance is so sweet,
that I will yield to the delusion," she rejoined. " But I
must listen to these honeyed words no longer. Once more
I must becotue the abbess."
"To others, but not to me," rejoined PhiliP•
On this, they left the recess, had re urned o where Con-
stance was attuning,

CRYST:iL PALACE.--ONE: SHILLING DAY, Thufs•
day, Jan. 20.—Admissions on payment, 674 ; ditto by sea-
son tickets, 629; total visitors, 1,203.