Prince Humphry smiled. “Dissolve the heavens and its stars into a cup of wine, and drink them all down at one gulp!” he said; “And then, perhaps, you may dissolve my marriage with this lady! If you consider it illegal, put the question to the Courts of Law;--to the Pope, who most strenuously supports the sanctity of the marriage-tie;--ask all who know anything of the sacrament, whether, when two people love each other, and are bound by holy matrimony to be as one, and are mutually resolved to so remain, any earthly power can part them! ‘Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.’ Is that mere lip mockery, or is it a holy bond?” The King gave an impatient gesture. “There is no use in argument,” he said, “when argument has to be carried on with such children as yourselves. What cannot be done by persuasion, must be done by force. I wished to act kindly and reasonably by both of you--and I had hoped better things from this interview,--but as matters have turned out, it may as well be concluded.” “Wait!” said Gloria, disengaging herself gently from her husband’s embrace; “I have something to say which ought to meet your wishes, even though it may not be all you desire. I will not promise to give up my husband;--I will not promise never to see him, and never to write to him--but I will swear to you one thing that should completely put your fears and doubts of me at rest!” Both the King and Queen looked at her wonderingly;--a brighter, more delicate beauty seemed to invest her,--she stood very proudly upright, her small head lifted,--her rich hair glistening in the soft sunshine that streamed in subdued tints through the high stained-glass windows of the room,--her figure, slight and tall, was like that of the goddess dreamt of by Endymion.