And, when I told her
so, she shrugged her pretty shoulders and answered:
"You are not the first American attache, you know."
"Nor the last, either," I replied, and then held my peace, though I saw
her hide a smile behind her roses.
"But you are the first that has been my cousin," she said sweetly,--and
I succumbed, of course. Yet I was punished promptly, nevertheless, for
at the throne she stopped and I led her back to the King.
"May I not have another dance later?" I asked.
She shook her head. "Don't you think you have been already favored
more than you deserve, cousin?"
"Yes," said I, "I do; that's why I am encouraged to ask for more."
"What a paragon of modesty!" she mocked.
I passed it by. "And the dance?" I asked.
"I shall dance no more to-night," she said. Then we reached the door
and found the small room crowded with officials and dignitaries. The
Princess halted sharply. "But you may take me for a turn on the
terrace," she concluded.
As we crossed the wide floor the crowd fell back,--but Dehra gave no
greeting to anyone, though she must have known all eyes were upon us.
Yet, to give her due credit, she seemed as unconscious of it as if we
were alone in the room.
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