was with Catalina. Her little face was setand anxious, and it was not difficult to guess at the thoughts which went on behind those big dark eyes.
Poor little Catalina! She was going to suffer a terrible wrench if she ever went to England.
An attendant came to the apartment and whispered to Isabella that the Queen's Highness wished to see her without delay, and she was to present herself in the Queen's bedchamber.
Young Isabella left her sisters at once and went to her mother's apartment.
The Queen was waiting for her, and Isabella's heart sank as she looked at her, for she guessed what she had to say.
The Queen kissed the Princess and said: 'There is news from Portugal. I wanted to tell you myself. I wanted to prepare you. Your father will doubtless be speaking of this matter when he sees you.'
Isabella's mouth had gone dry. 'Yes, Mother,' she said.
'Emanuel writes that since we insist on this condition he is ready to accept it.'
Isabella's pale cheeks were suddenly flushed. She cried out: 'You mean he will drive all those people out of his country just because ...'
'Just because he is so eager for this marriage. So, my dear, you should really begin to plan your departure for Portugal.'
'So ... soon?' stammered Isabella.
'I'm afraid your father wishes the marriage to take place this year.'
'Oh ... no!'
'It is so. Dear Isabella, I shall insist that we meet again soon after you leave us. If you do not come to me here in Spain, I will come to you in Portugal.'
'Mother, do you promise this?'
'I swear it.'
Isabella was silent. Then she burst out: 'Is there nothing I can do ...? I did not think he would agree to this ...'
'He wants this marriage. You should rejoice. It is more than a good marriage. On his side it is a love-match.'
'But there is my side, Mother.'
'You will love him in time. I know, my child. I am sure of it. He is a good and gentle man and he loves you dearly. You have nothing to fear.'
'But, Mother, this condition ...'
'But shows how much he loves you.'
'I know that he does it against his will.'
'That is because, good as he is, he has a certain blindness. That holy man, Tomas de Torquemada, sees in this the hand of God.'
Isabella shuddered. She wanted to shout that she did not like Torquemada, that she feared him, and when her cough kept her awake at night she fancied she heard the curses of the exiled Jews.
Her mother would not understand such flights of fancy. How could she explain to her? Her emotions seemed to choke her, and she feared that if she did not calm herself one of her bouts of coughing would overtake her.
She tried not to cough in front of her mother, because she knew how it worried the Queen. It was enough that Juana gave her such anxieties.
She said: 'Mother, if you will excuse me, I will go back to my apartment. I have some more preparations to make if I am to be ready when the party arrives.'
The Queen nodded assent and, when her daughter hadgone, murmured to herself: 'All will be well. This is the best thing that could happen to my Isabella.'
Isabella the Queen took the daughter of Maximilian in her arms and embraced her.
There were tears in Isabella's eyes. The girl was charming; she was healthy; and it seemed to her that Juan was already very happy with his bride.
Ferdinand looked on, his eyes agleam. It was very pleasant to be able to share in the general delight.
'We welcome you to Burgos,' said the Queen. 'I could not express how eager we have been for your coming.'
'I am happy to be here, Your Highness.'
The girl's smile was perhaps too warm, too friendly.
I must remember, the Queen told herself, that she has lived long in Flanders and the Flemish have little sense of decorum.
The Princesses Isabella, Maria and Catalina came forward and formally welcomed Margaret.
They thought her strange with her Flemish clothes, her fresh complexion and her familiar manners; but they liked her. Even Maria seemed to grow a little animated as she watched her. As for
Poor little Catalina! She was going to suffer a terrible wrench if she ever went to England.
An attendant came to the apartment and whispered to Isabella that the Queen's Highness wished to see her without delay, and she was to present herself in the Queen's bedchamber.
Young Isabella left her sisters at once and went to her mother's apartment.
The Queen was waiting for her, and Isabella's heart sank as she looked at her, for she guessed what she had to say.
The Queen kissed the Princess and said: 'There is news from Portugal. I wanted to tell you myself. I wanted to prepare you. Your father will doubtless be speaking of this matter when he sees you.'
Isabella's mouth had gone dry. 'Yes, Mother,' she said.
'Emanuel writes that since we insist on this condition he is ready to accept it.'
Isabella's pale cheeks were suddenly flushed. She cried out: 'You mean he will drive all those people out of his country just because ...'
'Just because he is so eager for this marriage. So, my dear, you should really begin to plan your departure for Portugal.'
'So ... soon?' stammered Isabella.
'I'm afraid your father wishes the marriage to take place this year.'
'Oh ... no!'
'It is so. Dear Isabella, I shall insist that we meet again soon after you leave us. If you do not come to me here in Spain, I will come to you in Portugal.'
'Mother, do you promise this?'
'I swear it.'
Isabella was silent. Then she burst out: 'Is there nothing I can do ...? I did not think he would agree to this ...'
'He wants this marriage. You should rejoice. It is more than a good marriage. On his side it is a love-match.'
'But there is my side, Mother.'
'You will love him in time. I know, my child. I am sure of it. He is a good and gentle man and he loves you dearly. You have nothing to fear.'
'But, Mother, this condition ...'
'But shows how much he loves you.'
'I know that he does it against his will.'
'That is because, good as he is, he has a certain blindness. That holy man, Tomas de Torquemada, sees in this the hand of God.'
Isabella shuddered. She wanted to shout that she did not like Torquemada, that she feared him, and when her cough kept her awake at night she fancied she heard the curses of the exiled Jews.
Her mother would not understand such flights of fancy. How could she explain to her? Her emotions seemed to choke her, and she feared that if she did not calm herself one of her bouts of coughing would overtake her.
She tried not to cough in front of her mother, because she knew how it worried the Queen. It was enough that Juana gave her such anxieties.
She said: 'Mother, if you will excuse me, I will go back to my apartment. I have some more preparations to make if I am to be ready when the party arrives.'
The Queen nodded assent and, when her daughter hadgone, murmured to herself: 'All will be well. This is the best thing that could happen to my Isabella.'
Isabella the Queen took the daughter of Maximilian in her arms and embraced her.
There were tears in Isabella's eyes. The girl was charming; she was healthy; and it seemed to her that Juan was already very happy with his bride.
Ferdinand looked on, his eyes agleam. It was very pleasant to be able to share in the general delight.
'We welcome you to Burgos,' said the Queen. 'I could not express how eager we have been for your coming.'
'I am happy to be here, Your Highness.'
The girl's smile was perhaps too warm, too friendly.
I must remember, the Queen told herself, that she has lived long in Flanders and the Flemish have little sense of decorum.
The Princesses Isabella, Maria and Catalina came forward and formally welcomed Margaret.
They thought her strange with her Flemish clothes, her fresh complexion and her familiar manners; but they liked her. Even Maria seemed to grow a little animated as she watched her. As for
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