took the Prince your
order, and looked upon his face, my soul was melted--O, I am
frank--here, within my arms, I offered him repose!" She advanced a step
superbly as she spoke, with outstretched arms; and Seraphina shrank. "Do
not be alarmed!" the Countess cried; "I am not offering that hermitage
to you; in all the world there is but one who wants to, and him you have
dismissed! 'If it will give her pleasure I should wear the martyr's
crown,' he cried, 'I will embrace the thorns.' I tell you--I am quite
frank--I put the order in his power and begged him to resist. You, who
have betrayed your husband, may betray me to Gondremark; my Prince would
betray no one. Understand it plainly," she cried, "'tis of his pure
forbearance you sit there; he had the power--I gave it him--to change
the parts; and he refused, and went to prison in your place."

The Princess spoke with some distress. "Your violence shocks me and
pains me," she began, "but I cannot be angry with what at least does
honour to the mistaken kindness of your heart: it was right for me to
know this. I will condescend to tell you. It was with deep regret that I
was driven to this step. I admire in many ways the Prince--I admit his
amiability. It was our great misfortune, it was perhaps somewhat of my
fault, that we were so unsuited to each other; but I have a regard, a
sincere regard, for all his qualities. As a private person I should
think as you do. It is difficult, I know, to make allowances for state
considerations. I have only with deep reluctance obeyed the call of a
superior duty; and so soon as I dare do it for the safety of the state,
I promise you the Prince shall be released. Many in my situation would
have resented your freedoms. I am not"--and she looked for a moment
rather piteously upon the Countess--"I am not altogether so inhuman as
you think."

"And you can put these troubles of the state," the Countess cried, "to
weigh with a man's love?"

"Madame von Rosen, these troubles are affairs of life and death to many;
to the Prince, and perhaps even to yourself, among the number," replied
the Princess, with dignity. "I have learned, madam, although still so
young, in a hard school, that my own feelings must everywhere come
last."

"O callow innocence!" exclaimed the other. "Is it possible you do not
know, or do not suspect, the intrigue in which you move? I find it in my
heart to pity you! We are both women after all--poor girl, poor
girl!--and wh