"You know, but you will not tell!"
"It--it may be so. He is false--he is false!" cried the voice of the
girl's sore heart; "a false sentry and a false protector. I can not
bear it. Philip! Philip! It was Themar's knife--and the bullet was
his--and all that seemed fine and noble was black and false!"
"You will not trust him as he begged!"
"I can not. For he will not tell me the reason for all these things!"
"You will wed Prince Ronador?"
"Yes. It is the one way out."
"Why?"
"He is a gallant lover and the victim of much that is vile and unfair."
"Yes--he has said so."
"He has suffered much through me."
"Yes."
"And he is honorable and devoted."
"It may be."
"He told me all, though he found it difficult."
"He was not bound by a pledge."
"No."
"Well, there is wisdom, the wisdom of the world, in your choice.
Flashing jewels, robes of state, maids of honor--"
"These things," spurned Diane with beautiful insolence, "I may buy with
gold."
"Ah!" crooned the wind, "but the vassalage of this elfin nation that
plays at empire, the romance and adventure of an imperial court! And
when the mad King dies and the Prince Regent, then Ronador will be
king--"
"I have thought of it all. I can not go back to the old shallow life
with Aunt Agatha.
Pages:
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257