"
"No, you shall stay," said Catherine, grasping her arm and detaining her;
"you shall hear your doom. You imagine your career will be a brilliant
one, and that you will be able to wield the sceptre you wrongfully wrest
from me; but it will moulder into dust in your hand--the crown unjustly
placed upon your brow will fall to the ground, and it will bring the head
with it."
"Take me away, Henry, I implore you!" cried Anne.
"You shall hear me out," pursued Catherine, exerting all her strength,
and maintaining her grasp, " or I will follow you down yon aisles, and
pour forth my malediction against you in the hearing of all your
attendants. You have braved me, and shall feel my power. Look at her,
Henry--see how she shrinks before the gaze of an injured woman. Look
me in the face, minion--you cannot!--you dare not!"
"Oh, Henry!" sobbed Anne.
"You have brought it upon yourself," said the king.
"She has," replied Catherine; "and, unless she pauses and repents, she
will bring yet more upon her head. You suffer now, minion, but how will
you feel when, in your turn, you are despised, neglected, and
supplanted by a rival--when the false glitter of your charms having
passed away, Henry will see only your faults, and will open his eyes to
all I now tell him?"
A sob was all the answer Anne could return.
Pages:
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317