Evening star., 1908-01-19
CHAPTER XII.
Intrfgues.


friend, reached the room which SO lately
was echoing with merry giriish laughter,
he was met by a page. deputed by the
Duchess OF Lincoln, to present her ex-
cuses to his grace for her non-appear-
ance.
"Nayhmarry. this is the bravest comedy
the boy had gone.
What. my lord?' asked Eyeringham
with seeming unconcern.
"A comedy. friend, in which the queen,
her grace of Lincoln. you. and his emf
nence the cardinal. all play leading roles"
II don't understand"
We'll done. man! Nay! know not yet
which Of you will win, but this know.
that whilst do my best to whisper sweet
nothings In her majestys ear. you are
pleased. the cardinal is furious. and the
Duchess OF Lincoln discreetly keeps my
afianced bride out of my way"
For this at least your grace should be
grateful" rejoined HIS friend with
smile.
Grateful that other people should guide
my destiny for me? Well! perhaps!
'Twould certes have been ungallant to fiee
from danger. when danger takes the form
saying to a lady: Madam. honor demands
that I should wed you and thus hath put
IL out of my power ever to love you. But
since the Lady Ursula Is so unapproach-
able marry!-methinks am almost free" ;"
"Perchance 'tis the lady herself who
avoids your grace. -,
..Nay. undoubtedly she does Poor giri!
How she must hate the very thought OF
me! Her dear father. fear me. was
wont to sing my praises In her childish
ears. Now that she hath arrived at years
of discretion. my very name must have
become an obsession to her. obviously
even a convent must be preferable Then
why this mad desire to keep US apart: ::
Mutual understanding would do that soon
enough"
The two men had once more turned to
20 back the way they came. Slowly they
strolled across the vast and lofty rooms
and through the great hall which, de-
serted at this time of day. was the scene
Of SO much gayety and magnthcence DUR
ing the evening hours.
"Your grace. methinks. must be mis-
taken.'' said Everingham after awhile.
There is. at any rate on the part OF your
friends no desire to keep you and the
Lady Ursula apart. You are the best
Judge of your own honor. my lord. ana
no one would presume to dictate to you:
but the most sensitive conscience in Eng
land could but hold the opinion that
whilst the lady may feel bound by her
promise TO her father. you are as free as
air-free to wed whom you choose
by the mass! What an anomaly,
friend. Free to wed! Free to wear fet-
ters-the most sterrible chains ever de-
vised by the turpltude of man..
Marriage Is a great institution"
Nay, tits an evil one, contrived out OF
malice by priests and old maids to en-
chain a woman who would rather be free
TO a man who speedily becomes bored"
NAY. but when that woman Is
queen?"
Take off her crown and what is she.
friend?" rejoined his grace lightly. "A
womani To be desired. OF course; to be
loved. by all means. but at whose feet
We should only recline long enough to
make all other men envious and one wom-
an jealous"
Everingham frowned. He hated this
f1ippant, careless mood of his friend. He
did not understand II. To him the idea
of such a possibility a union with the
Queen Of England was so great. so won
derfui. so superhuman almost that he felt
that the man who deserved such incom-
mensurate honor should spend half hts
days on his knees thanking God for such
a glorious destiny.
That Wessex hung back when Mary
herself was holding out her hand to him
seemed to this enthusiast almost a sac
rilege
But surely you have ambition, my
lord?" he said at last
Ambition replied wessex with char
acteristic lightheartedness. Yes. one
to be boy again"
.Noy. An you were that now, you
could not understand all that England
expects OF you. The queen Is harassed
by the cardinal and the Spanish ambas-
sador. Philip but desires her hand in
order 10 lay the iron heel of Spain upon
the neck of submissive England. Your
grace can save us all. Mary loves you
would wed you tomorrow.
And send me TO the block for my In
fidelities-supposed or real-the day after.
and be free to wed Philip or the dauphin
after all
.'I'n not believe it,
~Friend. do you know what you ask OF
me? To marry-that Is to say, to give up
all that makes life poetic. beautiful,
amusing. the love which lasts q day. the
delights which live one hour woman In
her most alluring aspect, the unattain-
able And in exchange what do you offer
me? The smaller half OF a CROWN
THE gratitude Of nation. protested
Everingham.
"Ah, woman, however tickle she may
be- Is more constant than a nation. AS
for gratitude, nay, my lord. let US not
speak of the gratitude of nations
This is not your last word. friend?''
pleaded Lord Everingham earnestly
They had reached the foot OF the stairs
and were once more under the gateway
OF the clock tower. where Lady Ursula
Glynde had caught sight OF them from
the great bay window opposite.
Ii was a glorious afternoon. October
always lovely in England. was,more beau.
tiful and mellow this year than 1t had
ever been. Wessex paused a moment
with his slender hand placed affectionate-
Iy on his friends shoulder. He looked
round him-at the great windows of tho
IAfl tr1 nF AhA hna, .,,r<