By the management of the keepers, the animal was driven past the
royal stand; and Anne Boleyn, who had drawn an arrow nearly to the
head, let it fly with such good aim that she pierced the buck to the
heart. A loud shout from the spectators rewarded the prowess of the
fair huntress; and Henry was so enchanted, that he bent the knee to
her, and pressed her hand to his lips. Satisfied, however, with the'
achievement, Anne prudentlv declined another shot. Henry then took a
bow from one of the archers, and other roes being turned out, he
approved upon them his unerring skill as a marksman.

Meanwhile, the hounds, being held in leash, kept up a loud and
incessant baying; and Henry, wearying of his slaughterous sport, turned
to Anne, and asked her whether she was disposed for the chase. She
answered in the affirmative, and the king motioned his henchmen to
bring forward the steeds.

In doing this, he caught sight of Mabel, who was standing with her
grandsire among the keepers, at a little distance from the stand, and,
struck with her extraordinary beauty, he regarded her for a moment
intently, and then called to Gabriel Lapp, who chanced to be near him,
and demanded her name.

"It is Mabel Lyndwood, an't please your majesty," replied Gabriel. "She
is granddaughter to old Tristram Lyndwood, who dwells at Black Nest,
near the lake, at the farther extremity of Windsor Forest, and who was
forester to your royal father, King Henry the Seventh, of blessed
memory."

" Ha! is it so? " cried Henry.