I at once made up
my mind, fortified by my knowledge of your opinion on the subject, that
for all the kingships in the world I could not be the cause of civil
dissension."
"That is a just and noble decision," she said, speaking for the first
time.
Then, standing before her, the young man in more moderate tone related
what had happened and what had been said in the chapel of the
Benedictine Fathers. She looked up at him, earnest face aglow, during
the first part of his recital, and now and then the sunshine of a smile
flickered at the corners of her mouth as she recognized her kinsman in
her lover's repetition of his words, but when it came to the question of
a marriage, her eyes sank to the floor, and remained there.
"Well, Hilda," he said at last, "have you the courage to go with me, all
unadvised, all unchaperoned, to the chapel this afternoon at three
o'clock?"
She rose slowly, still without looking at him, placed her hands on his
shoulders, then slipped them round his neck, laying her cheek beside
his.
Pages:
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563