Page 574 - Child's own book

adventure ! The Lord will not withdraw his hand from m e/’
And with as touch fear and trembling as if she were about to
commit a wicked action, did she steal down into the garden one
moonlight night, and crossing the long alleys, she threaded the
lonely streets until sbe reached the churchyard. She prayed
silently, and plucked the burning net ties, and cirried them home.
One human being alone had seen her, and that was the arch­
bishop. He was up 'while others were sleeping. Now he felt
confirmed in ti)3 opinion that the queen was not what she ought
to be, and that she was a witch, who had befooled the king and
the whole nation by Iict arts.
He told the king, in the confessional, what he had seen and
what he feared. And when harsh words came out of his mouth,
the cawed images of saints shook their heads, as much as to
say : (L Jt is not true ! Elise is innocent! " But the arch­
bishop interpreted (heir protestations quite differently : he pre­
tended they bon? witness against her, and that they shook their
brads at her sins. Then a couple of hitter tears rolled down
the king's cheeks. He went home, with a misgiving in his
heart, and that night he pretended to go to sleep* But no sleep
visited I<is eyes, and he perceived that Elise got up. Every
night she did the same, and each time he followed her softly,
and saw her disappear into the little room.
His brow grew darker day by day, Elise saw the change
that had come over him, yet could not imagine the reason*
though it made her uneasy—-and, liesides this, how she suffered
at heart on her brothers' account I Her warm tears bedewed
the regal velvet and purple, and they there lay like glittering
diamonds, and all who saw their splendour wished to be a
queen. Meantime, she had nearly finished her work. Only
one coat of mail was wanting ; but she was short of flax, and
had not a single nettle left- Once more—and this OQce only—