An
infinite joy was flooding his being, some sensation he had not dreamed
about even, of happiness and fulfilment.
She appeared to him more alluring than ever, and young and gay--as
young as Isabella! And then his thoughts caused him to take in his
breath with a hiss--Isabella--how far away she seemed. Of course he
could never love any one else--but--
"Don't think of it, then," the lady whispered. "Be young like me, and
live under the blue sky."
How was it she knew his thoughts always? He blushed while he
stammered: "No--I won't think of it--or anything but you--Princess."
"Daring one!" she said, "who told you to call me that? The hotel
people have been talking, I suppose."
"No," said Paul, surprised, "I called you Princess just because you
seem like one to me--but now I guess from what you say, you are not
plain Madame Zalenska."
Her eyes clouded for a second. "Madame Zalenska does to travel
with--but you shall call me what you like."
He grew emboldened.
"I suddenly feel I want so much--I want to know why your eyes were so
mocking through the trees on the Buergenstock? They drove me nearly
mad, you know, and I raced about after you like a dog after a hare!"
"I thought you would--you did not control the expression when you
gazed up at me! And so I was the true hare--and ran away!"
She looked down suddenly and was silent for some moments, then she
turned the conversation from these personal things.
Pages:
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51