tter if she chooses?"

The prince laughed gayly. "How American you are, gracious lady! A
German wife does not ask for her 'own purse.' My wife will cease to be
American; she will be German," patting his soft hands ecstatically.
"But you have not told me the name of her guardian?"

"Lucy," said Miss Vance reluctantly, "is of age. She has full control
of her property. A Trust Company manages it for her, but they have no
authority to stop her if she chooses to--throw it into the gutter."

The prince looked up sharply. Could this be a trick? But if it were,
the agent would find out for him. He rose.

"To have the sole disposal of her own hand and of her fortune? That
seems strange to us," he said, smiling. "But I have your consent, most
dear lady, to win both, if I can?"

"Oh, yes, prince. If you can."

He took her hand and bowed profoundly over it, but no courtly grace nor
words could bring back Clara's awe of him. She had a vague impression
that the Weir baker had been wrangling with her about his bill.

"Your Highness has asked a good many questions," she said. "May I put
one to you? Did you inquire concerning Miss Hassard's dot, also?" "Ah,
certainly! Why not? It is very large. I have spoken of it to my
cousin Count Odo. But the drawback--her father still lives. He may
marry again. Her dot depends upon his good pleasure. Whereas Miss
Dunbar is an orphan; and besides that, she is so dear to me!" clasping
his hands, his face red with fervor. "So truly dear!"

And she knew that he honestly meant it.

CHAPTER IX

When Miss Vance came into the corridor after she had reported this
interview to Lucy, Jean swept her into her room and dragged the whole
story from her. In fact the poor anxious lady was glad to submit it to
the girl's shrewd hard sense.

"You told him that she was the uncontrolled mistress of her money!"

"It is the truth. I had to tell him the truth, my dear."

"Yes, I suppose so, for he would have found it out anyhow."

"I do feel," panted Clara, "as if I had put a dove into the claws of a
vulture."

"Not at all," said Jean promptly. "The little man has a heart, but an
empty pocket. Was Lucy interested most in his love or his bargaining?"

"In neither, I think. She just went on painting, and said nothing."

"Oh, she will decide the matter in time! She will bring her little
intellect to bear on it as if it were a picnic for her Sunday-school
class!" Jean st