would be kind; he was well-bred and agreeable. A
princess? She had a vague idea of a glorified region of ancestral
castles and palaces in which dukes and royalties dwelt apart and
discoursed of high matters. She would be one of them.

The other day there seemed to be no reason why she should not marry Mr.
Perry. In marriage then one must only consider the suitability of the
man? There was nothing else to consider----

With a queer, hunted look in her soft eyes she worked on, daubing on
paint liberally.

Meanwhile, in the little salle below, Miss Vance sat stiffly erect,
while the prince talked in his shrill falsetto. Although he set forth
his affection for the engelreine Madchen as simply as the little German
baker in Weir (whom he certainly did resemble) might have done, she
could find, in her agitation, no fitting words in which to answer him.
That she, Clara Vance, should be the arbiter in a princely alliance!
At last she managed to ask whether Miss Dunbar had given him any
encouragement on which to found his claim.

"Ah, Fraulein Vance!" he cried, laughing. "The hare does not call to
the hounds! But I have no fear. She speaks to me in other ways than
by words.

"'Mein Herz und seine Augen
Verstehen sich gar so gut!'

You know the old song. Ah, ja! I understand what she would
say--here!" touching his heart.

He paced up and down, smiling to himself. Suddenly he drew up before
her, tossing his hands out as if to throw away some pleasant dream. "I
have come to you, gracious lady, as I would to the mother of Miss
Dunbar. I show to you the heart! But before I address her it is
necessary that I shall consult her guardian with regard to business."

It was precisely, Clara said afterward, as if the baker from Weir had
stopped singing, and presented his bill.

"Business?" she gasped. "Oh, I see! Settlements. We don't have such
things in the States. But I quite understand all those European social
traits. I have lived abroad for years. I----"

"Who is Miss Dunbar's guardian?" the prince demanded alertly. He sat
down by the table and took out a notebook and papers.

"But--settlements? Is not that a little premature?" she ventured.
"She has not accepted you."

"HE may not accept my financial proposals. It is business, you see.
The gentle ladies, even die Amerikaner, do not comprehend business. It
is not, you perceive, dear lady, the same when the head of the House of
Wolfburgh all