y dear child, impossible for you to do such a thing!" exclaimed the
Grand Duchess. "I can't think of allowing it. Fancy what a crush there
will be. All sorts of creatures trampling on each other for places.
Besides, you could see nothing."

"Oh, Mother," pleaded the Princess, in her softest, sweetest
voice--the voice she kept for extreme emergencies of cajoling. "I
couldn't _bear_ to stay shut up here while that music plays and the
crowds shout themselves hoarse for _my_ Emperor. Besides, it's the
most curious thing--I feel as if a voice kept calling to me that I
must be there. Miss Portman and I'll take care of each other. You
_will_ let me go, won't you?"

Of course the Grand Duchess yielded, her one stipulation being that
the two should keep close to the hotel; and the Princess urged her
reluctant companion away without waiting to hear her mother's last
counsels.

Their rooms were on the first floor, and the girl hurried eagerly
down the broad flight of marble stairs, Miss Portman following
dutifully upon her heels.

They could not get out by way of the front door, for people had paid
for standing room there, and would not yield an inch, even for an
instant; while the two or three steps below, and the broad pavement in
front were as closely blocked.

Matters began to look hopeless, but Virginia would not be daunted.
They tried the side entrance and found it free, the street into which
it led being comparatively empty; but just beyond, where it ran into
the great open square of the Leopoldplatz, there was a solid wall of
sight-seers.

"We might as well go back," said Miss Portman, who had none of the
Princess's keenness for the undertaking. She was tired after the
journey, and for herself, would rather have had a cup of tea than see
fifty emperors unveil as many statues by celebrated sculptors.

"Oh no!" cried Virginia. "We'll get to the front, somehow, sooner or
later, even if we're taken off our feet. Look at that man just ahead
of us. _He_ doesn't mean to turn back. He's not a nice man, but he's
terribly determined. Let's keep close to him, and see what he means
to do; then, maybe, we shall be able to do it as well."

Miss Portman glanced at the person indicated by a nod of the
Princess's head. Undismayed by the mass of human beings that blocked
the Leopoldplatz a few yards ahead, he walked rapidly along without
the least hesitation. He had the air of knowing exactly what he wanted
to do, and how to do i