t a
woman will _make_ him change it."

"Perhaps a woman has--already."

Virginia grew pale. Was she too late? Or was this a concealed
compliment which the chamois hunter did not guess she had the clue to
find? She could not answer. The silence between the two became
electrical, and the young man broke it, at last, with some slight
signs of confusion.

"It's a pity," said he, "that our Emperor can't hear you. He might be
converted to your views."

"Or he might clap me into prison for _lese majeste_."

"He wouldn't do that, gna' Fraeulein--if he's anything like me."

"Anything like you? Why, now you put me in mind of it, he's not unlike
you--in appearance, I mean, judging by his portraits."

"You have seen his portraits?"

"Yes, I've seen some. I really think you must be a little like him,
only browner and taller, perhaps. Yet I'm glad that you're a chamois
hunter and not an Emperor--almost as glad as _you_ can be."

"Will you tell me why, lady?"

"Oh, for one reason, because I couldn't possibly ask him, if he were
here in your place, what I'm going to ask of you. You've very kindly
laid the bread and ham ready, but you forgot to cut them."

"A thousand pardons. Our talk has set my wits wool-gathering. My mind
should have been on my manners, instead of on such far off things as
Emperors and their love affairs."

He began hewing at the big loaf as if it were an enemy to be
conquered. And there were few in Rhaetia who had ever seen those dark
eyes so bright.

"I like ham and bread cut thin, please," said the Princess.
"There--that's better. I'll sit here if you'll bring the things to me,
for I find that I'm tired; and you are very kind."

"A draught of our Rhaetian beer will do you more good than anything,"
suggested the hunter, taking up the plate of bread and ham he had
tried hard to cut according to her taste, placing it in her lap and
going back to draw a tankard of foaming amber liquid from a quaint
hogshead in a corner.

But Virginia waved the froth-crowned pewter away with a smile and a
pretty gesture. "My head has already proved not strong enough for your
mountains. I'm sure it isn't strong enough for your beer. Have you
some nice cold water?"

The young man laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "Our water here is
fit only for the outside of the body," he explained. "To us, that's no
great deprivation, as we're all true Rhaetians for our beer. But now,
on your account, I'm sorry."

"Perhaps you