-well, I didn't sleep well last
night. That's all."

He met Hedwig's glance squarely over the head of the Crown Prince.

"Nor did I," Hedwig said.

Later, when the boy was jumping, they had a moment together. The Crown
Prince was very absorbed. He was just a little nervous about jumping.
First he examined his stirrups and thrust his feet well into them. Then
he jammed his cap down on his head and settled himself, in the saddle,
his small knees gripping hard.

"It's higher than usual, isn't it?" he inquired, squinting at the
hurdle.

The riding-master examined it. "It is an inch lower than yesterday, Your
Royal Highness."

"Perhaps we'd better have it the same as yesterday," said the boy, who
was terribly afraid of being afraid.

Then, all being adjusted, and his mouth set very tight, indeed,
Prince Ferdinand William Otto took the first jump, and sailed over it
comfortably.

"I don't mind at all, after the first," he confided to the
riding-master.

"Are you angry that I came?" asked Hedwig.

"Angry? You know better."

"You don't say anything."

"Hedwig," said Nikky desperately, "do you remember what I said to you
the other day? That is in my heart now. I shall never change. That, and
much more. But I cannot say it to you. I have given my word."

"Of course they would make you promise. They tried with me, but I
refused." She held her chin very high. "Why did you promise? They could
not have forced you. They can do many things, but they cannot control
what you may say."

"There are reasons. Even those I cannot tell you. It would be easier,
Hedwig, for me to die than to live on and see what I must see. But
I cannot even die." He smiled faintly. "You see, I am not keeping my
promise."

"I think you will not die," said Hedwig cruelly. "You are too cautious."

"Yes, I am too cautious," he agreed heavily.

"You do not know the meaning of love."

"Then God grant I may never know, if it is worse than this:"

"If I were a man, and loved a woman, I would think less of myself and
more of her. When I saw her unhappy and being forced to a terrible
thing, I would move heaven and earth to save her."

"How would you do it?" said Nikky in a low tone.

Hedwig shrugged her shoulders. "I would find a way. The world is large.
Surely, if one really cared, it could be managed. I should consider my
first duty to her."

"I am a soldier, Highness. My first duty is to my country."

"You?" said Hedwig, now very white.