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himself and his son in the center of the field and his followers ranged themselves about him. Then he addressed them:
    “I like this not. I am denied admittance to my son's bride although she is in my territory. I would not wish to go against the law in this matter. Therefore, the council must decide what should be done. The Infanta has been married to the Prince by proxy. What we must decide is whether she is now my subject; and, if she is my subject, what law could prevent my seeing her if I wished. I pray you, gentlemen, consider this matter, but make it quick for the rain shows no sign of abating and we shall be wet to the skin by the time we reach Dogmersfield.”
    There was whispering among those gathered in the field. Henry watched them covertly. He had as usual conveyed his wishes and he expected his councillors to obey them. If any one of them raised objections to what he wished, that man would doubtless find himself guilty of some offence later on; he would not be sent to prison; he would merely have to pay a handsome fine.
    All knew this. Many of them had paid their fines for small offences. The King thought no worse of them, once they had paid. It was their money which placated him.
    In a few seconds the council had made its decision.
    “In the King's realm the King is absolute master. He need not consider any foreign law or customs. All the King's subjects should obey his wishes, and the Infanta, having married the Prince of Wales, albeit by proxy, is the King's subject.”
    Henry's eyes gleamed with satisfaction which held a faint tinge of regret. He could not, with justice, extract a fine from one of them.
    “Your answer is the only one I expected from you,” he said. “It is not to be thought of that the King should be denied access to any of his subjects.”
    He led the way out of the field to where Ayala was waiting for him.
    “The decision is made,” he said. Then he turned to Arthur. “You may ride on to Dogmersfield at the head of the cavalcade. I go on ahead.”
    He spurred his horse and galloped off; and Ayala, laughing inwardly, closely followed him.
    The Sovereigns of Spain would learn that this Henry of England was not a man to take orders, thought the ambassador. He wondered what Doña Elvira was going to say when she was confronted by the King of England.

    KATHARINE WAS SITTING with her maids of honor when they heard the commotion in the hall below. It had been too miserable a day for them to leave the Bishop's Palace and it had been decided that they should remain there until the rain stopped.
    Elvira burst on them, and never had Katharine seen her so agitated.
    “The King is below,” she said. Katharine stood up in alarm.
    “He insists on seeing you. He declares he
will
see you. I cannot imagine what their Highnesses will say when this reaches their ears.”
    “But does not the King of England know of my parents' wishes?”
    “It would seem there is only one whose wishes are considered in this place and that is the King of England.”
    “What is happening below?”
    “The Count of Cabra is telling the King that you are not to be seen until after the wedding, and the King is saying that he will not wait.”
    “There is only one thing to be done,” said Katharine quietly. “This is England and when we are in the King's country we must obey the King. Let there be no more protests. We must forget our own customs and learn theirs. Go and tell them that I am ready to receive the King.”
    Elvira stared at her in astonishment; in that moment Katharine looked very like her mother, and it was as impossible for even Elvira to disobey her as it would have been to disobey Isabella of Castile.
    SHE STOOD FACING the light, her veil thrown back.
    She saw her father-in-law, a man a little above medium height, so thin that his somewhat sombre garments hung loosely on him; his sparse fair hair, which fell almost to his shoulders, was lank and wet; his long gown which covered his doublet was