Buttheearl？Didheloveherinreturn？Didheunderstandthechild\'sheart？Hadhe，beneaththechildishface，alreadyrecognizedthepassionate，proudwoman？Hadheguessedthesecretsofthissoul，atoncesomaidenlyandchaste，andyetsopassionateandenergetic？
ThomasSeymourneverbetrayedasecret，andwhathehad，itmaybe，readintheeyesoftheprincess，andwhathehad，perhaps，spokentoherinthequietshadywalksofHamptonCourt，orinthelong，darkcorridorsofWhitehall，wasknowntonoonesavethosetwo。ForElizabethhadastrong，masculinesoul；sheneedednoconfidanttosharehersecrets；andThomasSeymourhadfearedeven，liketheimmortalhair-dresserofKingMidas，todigaholeandutterhissecrettherein；forheknewverywellthat，ifthereedgrewupandrepeatedhiswords，hemight，forthesewords，layhisheadontheblock。
PoorElizabeth！Shedidnotevensuspecttheearl\'ssecretandherownwerenot，however，thesame；shedidnotsuspectthatThomasSeymour，ifheguessedhersecret，might，perhaps，availhimselfofittomakethereofabrilliantfoilforhisownsecret。
Hehad，likeher，everbeforehiseyesthediamondcrownontheheadoftheyoungqueen，andhehadnoticedwellhowoldandfeeblethekinghadbecomeoflate。
Ashenowrodebythesideofthetwoprincesses，hefelthisheartswellwithaproudjoy，andboldandambitiousschemesaloneoccupiedhissoul。