ictly the correct thing--you had
better read your brother's letter for yourself."

Virginia put her hands behind her back with a childish gesture, and a
frightened look came into the eyes which at most times gazed bravely
upon the world. "I--somehow I can't," she said. "Please tell me."

"To begin with, then, you know what an admiration Dal has felt for
Count von Breitstein, ever since that diplomatic visit the Rhaetian
Chancellor paid to Hungaria. The fancy seemed to be mutual; but then,
who could ever resist Dal, if he wanted to be liked? The Chancellor
has written to him from time to time, and Dal has quite enjoyed the
correspondence; the old man can be witty as well as cynical if he
chooses, and Dal says he tells good stories. Now it seems (in the
informal way in which such affairs are usually put forward) that Count
von Breitstein has written confidentially to Dal, as our only near
male relative, asking how your family would regard an alliance between
Leopold and you, or if we have already disposed of your hand. At last
the Emperor is inclined to listen to his Chancellor's advice and
marry, and you, as a Protestant Princess--"

"A Protestant Princess, indeed!" cried Virginia. "I protest against
being approached by him on such terms."

The face of the Grand Duchess was darkened by the gloom of her
thoughts. "My daughter," she exclaimed mildly, yet despairingly, "it's
not possible that when this wonderful chance--this unheard of
chance--this chance that you were praying for--actually falls into
your hands, you will throw it away for--for a sentimental, school-girl
scruple?"

"I was not praying for it," said Virginia. "I'm sure, Mother, _you_
would have considered it most bold in me to pray for it. And I didn't.
I was only refusing other chances."

"Well, at all events, you have this one now. It is yours."

"Not in the one way I should have loved to see it come. Oh, Mother,
why does the Emperor want to marry me? Isn't there some other reason
than just because I'm a proper, Protestant Princess?"

"Of course," insisted the Grand Duchess, faintly encouraged. "Dal
mentions several most excellent reasons in his letter--if you would
only take them sensibly."

"I should like to hear them, at all events," answered Virginia.

"Well, you see the Empress of Rhaetia must be a Protestant, and there
aren't many eligible Protestant girls who would be acceptable to the
Rhaetians--girls who would be popular with the people