hath to thee made profer of his love!—use gentle-distant hints-half spoken words, which scarce shall catch his hearing at the time thou speakest them, but afterwards— when certain matters which I'll put in train are placed afore him-may break upon his fancy all attonce."

"Hist-hist-hist!-His Grace!-No more -get hence I know my lesson."

CHAPTER XII.

"'tis

Well, Inez! how farest thou my love," said Philip, entering the apartment, many an hour since I have seen thee, and those have seemed to me as many moons, so much have I desired to press thee in my arms; but I have had much business to transact with the Ambassadors from England, who are not yet departed.-Hast thou yet copied out that act of Edward's vassalage I gave thee

to transcribe ?"

Indeed, your Grace, I grieve to answer, nay.I did begin it, and had proceeded more than half way through the task, when haplessly I chanced to blot the writing; wherefore, thinking it unmeet to be pre

sented to your Grace, I tore it in despite; resolving I would write it afresh, and so I will,-in three days hence your Grace shall hold it."

"So! thanks-but fail not, I have need of it. Now tell me, hast thou seen Jeanne of late?-my sister, I should say," asked the Monarch.

"My Lord, I seldom see the Lady Countess, when last I met her-'tis now some days gone by-she was in company with the Queen."

"My sister doth not love thee, Inez, that I know, and I do also know the reason that she doth not, is-what thinkest Inez that it is ?"

"Truly, my Lord, I know not," answered Inez.

"Guess," said the Monarch.

"I can make not e'en a guess, but such as hurts my vanity to utter,-my great demerits I presume!"

"No, no, my fairest, 'tis not that, thou knowest it is not-guess again."

46

Now then for it," whispered Inez to

herself, let me

see how a little female wit can puzzle the wisdom of these lords of the creation, as they do name themselves,— those men who begin by swearing they will be our slaves-shortly after affect a lordship over us, and always end-if we know how to rule them-with being the tools we use, the fools for us to laugh at. Let me see I cannot indeed, my Lord, guess," she continued aloud, but in some apparent confusion.

"But thou must, and shalt answer me, my fairest."

"How!-indeed-my Lord-no—it cannot be," said Inez, feigning confusion at the obstinacy-though it was his usual custom to insist upon an answer to every questionwith which the King pressed the demand, -"surely your Grace can never think the Countess is-I mean that there is truth in the idle tale which is abroad.”

"Tale abroad!-what tale's abroad?-why what is that, Inez?" asked the King.

“A silly one, my Lord-silly indeed-too silly much to be worthy note-let's not speak of it."

"Well, but what may't be?-tell me I will hear it."

Thus pressed, Inez, with apparent reluctance, answered," Why then, my dear Lord, 'tis said the Lady Countess, your Grace's sister, hath grown jealous o'me of late,-foolish people!"

'Jealous of thee, Inez! thou dreamest,— wherefore jealous of thee, my little pet?"

Ay indeed, my Lord, wherefore! I ne'er did give her cause for jealousy."

"Why, alas, yes! there may be some truth too in what thou saidest, for since I have enjoyed the blessedness of knowing thee, my fair one, Jeanne and I have not so often met, but then 'tis only that my time being taken up with thee, I have small leisure to bestow on others,-I love her not the less. She cannot be thus silly as to feel jealous.”

Inez smiled at the simplicity of the King's thoughts, but he continued,-" I have often