"Will you ask me to call it, being for me?"

"Now God grant that she may choose you!" exclaimed Cranmer,
fervently, as he clasped his hands and raised his eyes to heaven.
"Poor, unfortunate queen! The first proof of thy husband's love may
be thy first misfortune! Why gave he thee the liberty of choosing
thine own spiritual director? Why did he not choose for thee?"

And Cranmer dropped his head upon his breast, and sighed deeply.

At this instant the door of the royal chamber opened, and Lady Jane,
daughter of Earl Douglas, and first maid of honor to the queen, made
her appearance on the threshold. Both bishops regarded her in
breathless silence. It was a serious, a solemn moment, the deep
importance of which was very well comprehended by all three.

"Her majesty the queen," said Lady Jane, in an agitated voice, "her
majesty requests the presence of Lord Cranmer, archbishop of
Canterbury, in her cabinet, in order that she may perform her
devotions with him."

"Poor queen!" murmured Cranmer, as he crossed the room to go to
Catharine--"poor queen! she has just made an implacable enemy."

Lady Jane waited till Cranmer had disappeared through the door, then
hastened with eager steps to the bishop of Winchester, and dropping
on her knee, humbly said, "Grace, your highness, grace! My words
were in vain, and were not able to shake her resolution."