Ere long, stag, hounds, and huntsmen were lost amid a thicket, and nothing could be distinguished but a distant baying and shouts.At last even these sounds died away.
Henry, who had ill brooked the previous restraint, now grew so impatient, that Anne begged him to set off after them, when suddenly the cry of hounds burst upon their ears, and the hart was seen issuing from the dell, closely followed by his pursuers.
The affrighted animal, to the king's great satisfaction, made his way directly towards the spot where he was stationed; but on reaching the side of the knoll, and seeing his new foes, he darted off on the right, and tried to regain the thicket below.But he was turned by another band of keepers, and again driven towards the knoll.
Scarcely had Sir Thomas Wyat reined in his steed by the side of the king, than the hart again appeared bounding up the hill.Anne Boleyn, who had turned her horse's head to obtain a better view of the hunt, alarmed by the animal's menacing appearance, tried to get out of his way.But it was too late.Hemmed in on all sides, and driven to desperation by the cries of hounds and huntsmen in front, the hart lowered his horns, and made a furious push at her.
Dreadfully alarmed, Anne drew in the rein so suddenly and sharply, that she almost pulled her steed back upon his haunches; and in trying to avoid the stag's attack, caught hold of Sir Thomas Wyat, who was close beside her.In all probability she would have received some serious injury from the infuriated animal, who was just about to repeat his assault and more successfully, when a bolt from a cross-bow, discharged by Morgan Fenwolf, who suddenly made his appearance from behind the beech-tree, brought him to the ground.
But Anne Boleyn escaped one danger only to encounter another equally serious.On seeing her fling herself into the arms of Sir Thomas Wyat, Henry regarded her in stern displeasure for a moment, and then calling angrily to his train, without so much as deigning to inquire whether she had sustained any damage from the accident, or making the slightest remark upon her conduct, rode sullenly towards the castle.
IX.By what means Sir Thomas Wyat obtained an Interview with Anne Boleyn--And how the Earl of Surrey saved them from the King's anger.
The incident above related gave new life to the adherents of Catherine of Arragon, while it filled those devoted to Anne Boleyn with alarm.
Immediately on Anne's return to the castle Lord Rochford had a private interview with her, and bitterly reproached her for endangering her splendid prospects.Anne treated the matter very lightly--said it was only a temporary gust of jealousy--and added that the king would be at her feet again before the day was past.
"You are over-confident, mistress!" cried Rochford angrily."Henry is not an ordinary gallant."" It is you who are mistaken, father," replied Anne."The king differs in no respect from any of his love-smitten subjects.I have him in my toils, and will not let him escape.""You have a tiger in your toils, daughter, and take heed he breaks not forcibly through them," rejoined Rochford."Henry is more wayward than you suppose him.Once let him take up a notion, and nothing can shake him from it.He has resolved upon the divorce as much from self-will as from any other consideration.If you regain your position with him, of which you seem so confident, do not consider yourself secure--not even when you are crowned queen--but be warned by Catherine of Arragon.""Catherine has not the art to retain him," said Anne."Henry will never divorce me.""Take care he does not rid himself of you in a more summary manner, daughter," rejoined Rochford."If you would stand well with him, you must study his lightest word, look, and action--humour him in every whim--and yield to every caprice.Above all, you must exhibit no jealousy.""You are wrong in all but the last, father," returned Anne."Henry is not to be pleased by such nice attention to his humours.It is because Ihave shown myself careless of them that I have captivated him.But Iwill take care not to exhibit jealousy, and, sooth to say, I do not think Ishall have cause."
"Be not too sure of that," replied Rochford."And at all events, let not the king have cause to be jealous of you.I trust Wyat will be banished from court.But if he is not, do not let him approach you more.""Poor Sir Thomas!" sighed Anne."He loved me very dearly.""But what is his love compared to the king's?" cried Rochford."Tut, tut, girl! think no more of him.""I will not, my lord," she rejoined; "I see the prudence of your counsel, and will obey it.Leave me, I pray you.I will soon win back the affections of the king."No sooner had Rochford quitted the chamber than the arras at the farther end was raised, and Wyat stepped from behind it.His first proceeding was to bar the door.
"What means this, Sir Thomas?" cried Anne in alarm."How have you obtained admittance here?""Through the secret staircase," replied Wyat, bending the knee before her.
"Rise, sir!" cried Anne, in great alarm."Return, I beseech you, as you came.You have greatly endangered me by coming here.If you are seen to leave this chamber, it will be in vain to assert my innocence to Henry.Oh, Sir Thomas! you cannot love me, or you would not have done this.""Not love you, Anne!" he repeated bitterly; "not love you I Words cannot speak my devotion.I would lay down my head on the scaffold to prove it.But for my love for you, I would throw open that door, and walk forth so that all might see me--so that Henry might experience some part of the anguish I now feel.""But you will not do so, good Sir Thomas--dear Sir Thomas," cried Anne Boleyn, in alarm.
