royal palace to catch a sight of Catharine, when she appeared at her
husband's side upon the balcony, to show herself to the English
people as their queen, and to receive their homage in return.

Surely it was a proud and lofty success for the widow of a petty
baron to become the lawful wife of the King of England, and to wear
upon her brow a royal crown! But yet Catharine Parr's heart was
moved with a strange fear, her cheeks were pale and cold, and before
the altar her closely compressed lips scarcely had the power to
part, and pronounce the binding "I will."

At last the sacred ceremony was completed. The two spiritual
dignitaries, Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, and Cranmer, archbishop
of Canterbury, then, in accordance with court etiquette, led the
young bride into her apartments, in order to bless them, and once
more to pray with her, before the worldly festivities should begin.

Catharine, however, pale and agitated, had yet sustained her part in
the various ceremonies of the day with a true queenly bearing and
dignity; and, as now with head proudly erect and firm step, she
walked with a bishop at either side through the splendid apartments,
no one suspected how heavy a burden weighed upon her heart, and what
baleful voices were whispering in her breast.

Followed by her new court, she had traversed with her companions the
state apartments, and now reached the inner rooms. Here, according
to the etiquette of the time, she must dismiss her court, and only
the two bishops and her ladies of honor were permitted to accompany
the queen into the drawing-room. But farther than this chamber even
the bishops themselves might not follow her. The king himself had