'So you and my uncle and Throckmorton keep your feet from my paths, you may have my leavings,' she said. 'And they will be the larger part, since I ask little for myself.' He gave her his episcopal blessing as she followed the Lady Mary to her rooms. * * * * * Her mind was made up--and she knew that it had been made up hastily, but she was never one to give much time to doubting. She wished these men to leave her out of their plots--but four men are stronger than one woman. Yet, as her philosophy had it, you may make a woman your tool, but she will bend in your hand and strike where she will, for all that. Therefore she must plot, but not with them. As soon as she could she found the Lady Mary alone, and, setting her valour up against the other's dark and rigid figure, she spoke rapidly: She would have her lady write to her friends across the sea that, if Cromwell were ever to fall, they must now stay their hands against the King: they must diminish their bands, discontinue their fortifyings and feign even to quarrel amongst themselves. Otherwise the King must rest firm in his alliance with Cleves, to counterbalance them. The Lady Mary raised her eyebrows with a show of insolent astonishment that was for all the world like the King's. 'You affect my father!' she said. 'Is it not a dainty plan?' Katharine brushed past her words with: 'It matters little who affects what thing. The main is that Privy Seal must be cast down.' 'Carthage must be destroyed, O Cato,' the Lady Mary sneered. 'Ye are peremptory.' 'I am as God made me,' Katharine answered. 'I am for God's Church....' She had a sharp spasm of impatience. 'Here is a thing to do, and the one and the other snarl like dogs, each for his separate ends.' 'Oh, la, la,' the Lady Mary laughed. 'A Howard is as good as any man,' Katharine said. Her ingenuous face flushed, and she moved her hand to her throat. 'God help me: it is true that I swore to be your woman. But it is the true province of your woman to lead you to work for justice and the truth.' A black malignancy settled upon the face of the princess. 'I have been called bastard,' she said. 'My mother was done to death.' 'No true man believes you misbegotten,' Katharine answered hotly. 'Well, it is proclaimed treason, to speak thus,' the Lady Mary sneered. 'Neither can you give your sainted mother her life again.' Katharine ignored her words. 'But these actions were not your father's. It was an ill man forced him to them. The saints be good to you; is it not time to forgive a sad man that would make amends? I would have you to write this letter.' The Lady Mary's lips moved into the curves of a tormenting smile. 'You plead your lover's cause main well,' she uttered. Katharine had another motion of impatience. 'Your cause I plead main better,' she said. 'It is certain that, this man once down, your bastardy should be reversed.' 'I do not ask it,' the Lady Mary said.