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VIII。
ENTERING the Concert Room； I found the Princess alone on the dais； receiving the company。 〃Nervous prostration〃 had made it impossible for the Prince to be present。 He was confined to his bed…chamber； and the Doctor was in attendance on him。
I bowed to the Baroness； but she was too seriously offended with me for declining to take her advice to notice my salutation。 Passing into the conservatory； it occurred to me that I might be seen； and possibly suspected； in the interval between the first and second parts of the programme； when the music no longer absorbed the attention of the audience。 I went on； and waited outside on the steps that led to the garden； keeping the glass door open； so as to hear when the music of the second part of the concert began。
After an interval which seemed to be endless； I saw the Princess approaching me。
She had made the heat in the Concert Room an excuse for retiring for a while； and she had the Baroness in attendance on her to save appearances。 Instead of leaving us to ourselves； the malicious creature persisted in paying the most respectful attentions to her mistress。 It was impossible to make her understand that she was not wanted any longer until the Princess said sharply； 〃Go back to the music！〃 Even then； the detestable woman made a low curtsey； and answered： 〃I will return； Madam； in five minutes。〃
I ventured to present myself in the conservatory。
The Princess was dressed with exquisite simplicity； entirely in white。 Her only ornaments were white roses in her hair and in her bosom。 To say that she looked lovely is to say nothing。 She seemed to be the ethereal creature of some higher sphere； too exquisitely delicate and pure to be approached by a mere mortal man like myself。 I was awed； I was silent。 Her Highness's sweet smile encouraged me to venture a little nearer。 She pointed to a footstool which the Baroness had placed for her。 〃Are you afraid of me； Ernest？〃 she asked softly。
Her divinely beautiful eyes rested on me with a look of encouragement。 I dropped on my knees at her feet。 She had asked if I was afraid of her。 This； if I may use such an expression； roused my manhood。 My own boldness astonished me。 I answered： 〃Madam； I adore you。〃
She laid her fair hand on my head； and looked at me thoughtfully。 〃Forget my rank；〃 she whispered〃have I not set you the example？ Suppose that I am nothing but an English Miss。 What would you say to Miss？〃
〃I should say； I love you。〃
〃Say it to Me。〃
My lips said it on her hand。 She bent forward。 My heart beats fast at the bare remembrance of it。 Oh； heavens； her Highness kissed me！
〃There is your reward；〃 she murmured； 〃for all you have sacrificed for my sake。 What an effort it must have been to offer the pretense of love to an obscure stranger！ The Baroness tells me this actressthis singerwhat is she？is pretty。 Is it true？〃
The Baroness was quite mischievous enough to have also mentioned the false impression； prevalent about the Court； that I was in love with Jeanne。 I attempted to explain。 The gracious Princess refused to hear me。
〃Do you think I doubt you？〃 she said。 〃Distinguished by me； could you waste a look on a person in _that_ rank of life？〃 She laughed softly； as if the mere idea of such a thing amused her。 It was only for a moment： her thoughts took a new directionthey contemplated the uncertain future。 〃How is this to end？〃 she asked。 〃Dear Ernest； we are not in Paradise； we are in a hard cruel world which insists on distinctions in rank。 To what unhappy destiny does the fascination which you exercise over me condemn us both？〃
She pausedtook one of the white roses out of her bosomtouched it with her lipsand gave it to me。
〃I wonder whether you feel the burden of life as I feel it？〃 she resumed。 〃It is immaterial to me； whether we are united in this world or in the next。 Accept my rose； Ernest； as an assurance that I speak with perfect sincerity。 I see but two alternatives before us。 One of them （beset with dangers） is elopement。 And the other；〃 she added； with truly majestic composure； 〃is suicide。〃
Would Englishmen in general have rightly understood such fearless confidence in them as this language implied？ I am afraid they might have attributed it to what my friend the secretary called 〃German sentiment。〃 Perhaps they might even have suspected the Princess of quoting from some old…fashioned German play。 Under the irresistible influence of that glorious creature； I contemplated with such equal serenity the perils of elopement and the martyrdom of love； that I was for the moment at a loss how to reply。 In that moment； the evil genius of my life appeared in the conservatory。 With haste in her steps； with alarm in her face； the Baroness rushed up to her royal mistress； and said； 〃For God's sake； Madam； come away！ The Prince desires to speak with you instantly。〃
Her Highness rose； calmly superior to the vulgar excitement of her lady in waiting。 〃Think of it to…night；〃 she said to me； 〃and let me hear from you to…morrow。〃
She pressed my hand； she gave me a farewell look。 I sank into the chair that she had just left。 Did I think of elopement？ Did I think of suicide？ The elevating influence of the Princess no longer sustained me； my nature became degraded。 Horrid doubts rose in my mind。 Did her father suspect us？
IX。
NEED I say that I passed a sleepless night？
The morning found me with my pen in my hand； confronting the serious responsibility of writing to the Princess； and not knowing what to say。 I had already torn up two letters； when Uncle David presented himself with a message from his niece。 Jeanne was in trouble； and wanted to ask my advice。
My state of mind； on hearing this； became simply inexplicable。 Here was an interruption which ought to have annoyed me。 It did nothing of the kindit inspired me with a feeling of relief！
I naturally expected that the old Frenchman would return with me to his niece； and tell me what had happened。 To my surprise； he begged that I would excuse him； and left me without a word of explanation。 I found Jeanne walking up and down her little sitting…room； flushed and angry。 Fragments of torn paper and heaps of flowers littered the floor； and three unopen jewel…cases appeared to have been thrown into the empty fireplace。 She caught me excitedly by the hand the moment I entered the room。
〃You are my true friend；〃 she said； 〃you were present the other night when I sang。 Was there anything in my behavior on the stage which could justify men who call themselves gentlemen in insulting me？〃
〃My dear； how can you ask the question？〃
〃I must ask it。 Some of them send flowers； and some of them send jewels； and every one of them writes lettersinfamous； abominable letterssaying they are in love with me； and asking for appointments as if I was〃
She could say no more。 Poor dear Jeanneher head dropped on my shoulder； she burst out crying。 Who could see her so cruelly humiliatedthe faithful loving daughter； whose one motive for appearing on the stage had been to preserve her father's good nameand not feel for her as I did？ I forgot all considerations of prudence； I thought of nothing but consoling her； I took her in my arms； I dried her tear