"I set myself upon my knees afore her Highness, so soon as my astonishment would give me leave. `They do not burn me,' she said, in the slow uncertain way wherein she had spoken at first. `I think they scarce liked to do that. But I had suffered less; for then it had been over long ago. They say I am mad. And it doth seem sometimes as if somewhat in my head were lost,' she saith, pressing her hands wearily upon her brow. `It was Dona Isabel, my mother. She used to give me the _cuerda_!'--`Senora,' I answered, `craving your Highness' pardon, I, being a maid from strange parts, know not that word _cuerda_!'--`Have they the thing in your land?' answered the Queen heavily. `Did they try that on my poor sister, your Princess of Wales [Katherine of Aragon]? _Ay de mi_!'--`I know not,' said I, `under the gracious pleasure of your Highness, what the thing is.'--`Look!' she said, pointing with her thin, trembling hand. "I looked whither she pointed, and in the further corner of the chamber I saw a frame of pulleys set in the ceiling. But it came not presently to my mind wherefore they were there. `They set those short sticks under my arms,' the Queen said, speaking heavily as it were with sleep. `Then they jerk up the pulleys, and I have to go up with them. It hurts very much. I think I scream sometimes, and then he beats me for disturbing people. They alway do it at night. They say I need it, and I am mad. I marvel if they cure mad people so in England. And I think if they did it sometimes in the day, it would not disturb people so much. You see, I understand it not--at least they say so. But I fancy I understood better before the _cuerda_.' "I was silent from very horror, as the fearful truth dawned slowly upon me. `_Ay de mi_!' sighed the Queen again, leaving her head fall back upon her arms. `My father never used to do so. They say 'tis by his command. I marvel if they tell me the truth.'--`Who dareth to do thus unto your Highness?' I said at last. `Denia,' she said, in the same dreamy fashion, `and them he bringeth with him. They want me to confess, and to hear mass. I think they make me go sometimes, when that thing in mine head is lost. But if I know it, I resist them.'