At this intimation the queen and her companion stepped quickly on, and
as she advanced, Anne Boleyn perceived Jane Seymour and the king
seated on a couch within the apartment. Henry was habited like a
pilgrim, but he had thrown down his hat, ornamented with the scallop-
shell, his vizard, and his staff, and had just forced his fair companion to
unmask.
At the sight, Anne was tranfixed with jealous rage, and was for the
moment almost unconscious of the presence of Norris, or of the monk,
who remained behind the curtain, pointing to what was taking place.
"Your majesty is determined to expose my blushes," said Jane
Seymour, slightly struggling with her royal lover.
"Nay, I only want to be satisfied that it is really yourself, sweetheart,"
cried Henry passionately. "It was in mercy to me, I suppose, that you
insisted upon shrouding those beauteous features from my view.
"Hear you that, madam?" whispered Norris to Anne.
The queen answered by a convulsive clasp of the hand.
"Your majesty but jests with me," said Jane Seymour. "Jests!" cried
Henry passionately. "By my faith! I never understood the power of
beauty till now. No charms ever moved my heart like yours; nor shall I
know a moment's peace till you become mine.
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