"No--no," cried Charles. "She has done too much already. My chief regret in parting with you, Jane, is that I cannot requite your services, but a time, I trust, will come when I shall be able to do so. Of all who have served me, you have the strongest claim to my gratitude, and the debt shall not remain undischarged. And now, since the word must be spoken, I will no longer hesitate to pronounce it--farewell to both! I need not wish you happiness, Sir Clement, since you will possess a treasure, such as few men have been fortunate enough to obtain." "I know it, my liege," replied Sir Clement, earnestly. Making a profound reverence to the king, Jane then retired, exclaiming in fervent tones, as she quitted the room: "Heaven preserve your majesty!" Charles was much affected by her departure, and remained for some minutes engrossed by painful reflections. Roused from his reverie by a noise in the yard, he stepped to the window, and saw that Jane and Sir Clement had mounted their steeds, and were bidding adieu to Colonel Wyndham and Juliana. She raised her eyes for a moment towards the window at which the king was stationed, but he could not tell whether she perceived him or not. The gate was thrown open by Peters, hands were waved as they passed through it--and she and Sir Clement were gone. CHAPTER VII. OF THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE KING AND SIR JOHN STRANGWAYS IN MELBURY PARK. Later on in the day Colonel Wyndham came in to learn the king's commands, and finding him much depressed, said: "Your majesty seems cast down by Mistress Jane Lane's departure, and I do not wonder at it; but I trust you believe that you have friends here who will serve you as faithfully as she has done." "I do not doubt it, Frank," sighed Charles. "I have every reliance on your fidelity."