he thorns!"

While the prince was speaking, the count became deathly pale, and looked
at him with painful distrust.

"It is true," he replied, "the princess is cold and reserved toward her
husband. Without doubt, this is the result of a determination to meet
your wishes fully, and to remain clearly within the boundary which your
highness at the time of your marriage, more than a year ago, plainly
marked out for her. The princess knows, perhaps too well, that her
husband is wholly indifferent to her beauty and her expression, and
therefore feels herself at liberty to yield to each changeful mood
without ceremony in your presence."

"You are right," said Prince Henry, sadly, "she is wholly indifferent to
me, and I have told her so. We will speak no more of it. What,
indeed, are the moods of the princess to me? I will dress, go to the
music-saloon, and ask for forgiveness in my name for my delay. I will
soon be ready; I will seek the princess in her apartments, and we will
join you in a few moments."

The prince bowed and left the room. Kalkreuth gazed after him
thoughtfully and anxious.

"His manner is unaccountably strange to-day," whispered he. "Has he,
perhaps, any suspicion; and these apparently artless questions
and remarks this distraction and forgetfulness--But no, no! it is
impossible, he can know nothing--no one has betrayed me. It is the
anguish of my conscience which makes me fearful; this suffering I must
bear, it is the penalty I pay for my great happiness." The count sighed
deeply and withdrew.

The prince completed his toilet, and sought the princess in her
apartment, in the other wing of the castle. With hasty steps he passed
through the corridors; his countenance was anxious and expectant, his
eyes were glowing and impatient, haste marked every movement; he held
in his hand a costly bouquet of white camelias. When he reached the
anteroom of the princess he became pallid, and leaned for a moment,
trembling and gasping for breath, against the wall; he soon, however, by
a strong effort, controlled himself, entered, and commanded the servant
to announce him.

The Princess Wilhelmina received her husband with a stiff, ceremonious
courtesy, which, in its courtly etiquette, did not correspond with the
costume she had assumed. The proud and stately princess was transformed
into an enchanting, lovely shepherdess. It was, indeed, difficult to
decide if the princess were more beautiful in her splendid court