"It's a bit unnecessary sometimes," she laughed.
I made no reply. In truth, I knew none. But the Princess did not seem
to notice it. She was plucking at the roses again.
"I wish I might flirt," she broke out suddenly.
I grasped the marble rail for support.
"Don't look so surprised," she laughed, "I'll not try it--I know what
is permitted me."
"Then you never flirted?" I asked with assumed seriousness.
"No; that's another penalty of birth. With whom may the Princess Royal
flirt?"
I waved my hand toward the ball room.
"I hope I am neither cruel nor indiscreet," she said, rather curtly.
"But there are many royal guests come to Dornlitz," I ventured.
She shrugged her shoulders. "They all bore me."
"Which only makes them the better material to practice on."
"Surely, I am very innocent," she said. "I thought at least a bit of
sentiment was required."
"Sentiment only endangers the game," I explained.
"But suppose the sentiment were to come suddenly--in the midst of the
'game,' as you call it?"
"Then," said I, "there is rare trouble ahead for the other party."
"But if that one also were to become--you know," she went on.
"There's an end to the flirtation; it's a different kind of game then.
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