The Heart of Princess Osra

the Prince o

e to pay his respects to the King and Queen, and to make his court to the Princess. King Rudolf had received him with the utmost friendship, and was, for reasons of State then of great moment but now of vanished interest, as eager for the match as was the King of Glottenberg himself; and he grew very impatient with his sister when she hesitated to accept Ludwig's hand, alleging that she felt for him no more than a kindly esteem, and, what was as much to the purpose, that he felt no more for her. For although the Prince posse

he is here he kisses my hand as though it were a statue's hand; and-and

the King. "This is such love as a Princ

love at all," said

and told her with grave courtesy that his pl

ing my face," and then, asham

; it was with a sigh that he said: "My

him with flushed che

er it were spent in

parted, he back to his Palace, she to her chamber, where she sat, asking again: "Is this love?" and crying: "He does not kn

grew weary of such wooing, and loved to be easy and merry; for thus she hoped to sting him, so that he would either disclose more warmth or altoge

ty in everything. Therefore, when he still persisted, and Rudolf and the Queen urged her, telling her (the King mockingly, the Queen with a touch of sadness) that she must not look to find in the world such love as romantic girls

airest lady in the world. B

it, thanking him for his help and approval, and expressing hi

e and find her?" cried th

e Princess to forgive me. This afternoon I will crave

curling on his lips; and he said,

ould talk about gratitude, and business, and the af

nd glancing at him with most friendly eyes. "Indeed, dear friend, I

come after his business was transacted that afternoon. But Osra, having given her hand, would admit no fault in the man she had chosen, an

vers, sister Osra, an

catching swiftly at his hand; her vo

King, knitting his brows and seeming t

hispered. "Should I be f

er to him, and gave her a hearty brother's kiss, telling her to take courage. "You'll thaw the fellow yet," said th

d kissed her hand. Then he rose and declared his thanks, and promised his devotion; but as he spoke the flush faded and the light died from her eyes; and when at last he drew near to her and offered to kiss her cheek, her eyes were dead and her face pale and cold as she suffered him to touch it. He was content to touch it but once, and seemed not to know how cold it was; and so, after more talk of his father's pleasure and his pride, he took his leave, promising to come again the next day. She r

is honour would not let him break; for nothing short of that, said he, should have kept him from her side. There followed some lover's phrases, scantily worded and frigid in an assumed passion. But Osra, smiling graciously, sent back a message, readily accepting all that the Prince urged in excuse. And she told what had passed to the King, with her head high in the air and a careless haughtiness, so that even the King did not rally her

ay nothing of it; yet, impelled by his anger, he had set himself to watch the Prince very closely; and thus he had, as he conceived, discovered something which brought a twinkle into his eye and a triumphant smile to his lips as he rode behind the Princess. Some fifteen miles she accompanied her brother, and then, tur

id she, "have you som

house standing among the trees, s

d be here where Christian is, and not there whe

s a bold fellow and would not be silenced now that he had begun to speak; he kn

y can get knowledge. So I know that the Prince is there. F

behind. But Christian persisted, partly in a foolish grudge against any man who should win what was above his reach, partly in an honest anger that she, whom he worshipped, should be treated lightly b

aken him away; and she commanded Christian to be silent and to speak neither to her nor to any one else of his false suspicions; and she bade him very harshly to fall back and ride behind her again, which he did, sullen yet s

ed no more explanation. Yet she could hardly believe what she had been told of him, for though she had not loved him, she had accorded to him her full trust. Rising, she paced in pain about the room. She could not rest; she cried out in longing that

ne, for she would not take Christian with her, and she shrank from speaking of the matter to any gentlemen of

dressed for riding, with a sword, and on the best horse in his stables. The Bishop came equipped as she bade him, and in very great wonder. But when

hour," she cried. "I

bring you word. You

id she. "Yes, I will go, and mysel

tian waited for them with the horses, and they came presently, the Bishop wearing a great slouched hat, and swaggering like a roystering trooper, while Osra was closely veiled. The Bishop again imposed secrecy on Christian, and then, they both being mounted,

erself for going, nor any fear of what she might find, but the injury to her pride swallowed every other feeling; and

t live if it

s peace; yet his blood also was hot against

st know of i

t a gallop. The moon, breaking suddenly in brightness from behind a cloud, shewed the Bishop

he. She knew well th

me, then; ki

id the Bishop. "I pray

kill him," said Osra; and she turned h

from Osra's lips, as she pointed with her whip to the window. Now his own breath came quick and fast; he prayed to God that he might remember his sacred characte

the house. Here, having dismounted and tied their horses to the g

one, madame,"

d, and I will go a

and he led the way by the moonlight that bro

ld be mine," she whispered. "Yet

owed his head and prayed again for her and for himself; for he had found his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. Thus, side by side now, they ca

d; but Osra flung her veil on to the ground, and the Bishop gripped his arm as wit

el of Princes. Stand aside," and before the Chamberlain could make up hi

tly to the stairs. In silence they mounted, till they had reached the top of the first stage; and facing them, eight or ten steps further up, was a door. By the door stood a groom; this was the man who had treacherously

them, and, going on, passed also the Chamberlain, who stood dazed at the house-door, and so disappeared, intent on saving the life he had

a to the Bishop, raising her hand above

man and the voice of a woman; Osra's glance at her companion t

eathed from between her te

but the words were not audi

or death, apart or

ars like the distant cry of some brute creature in pain that it cannot understand. Yet Osra's

th a firm step she began to mount the s

could not choose but listen to the passionate words of love that pierced her ear

art she caught the Bishop's hand, for she could not liste

he door, ope

of the door, and turned it. Then he flung the door open wide; at that instant Osra sprang past him, her eyes gleaming

d air. There was no shame on his face, and hardly surprise. Presently he took one arm from about the lady, and, raising it, motioned to them to be still. Osra took one step forward towards where the pair stood; the Bishop caught her sleeve, but she shook him off. The lady looked up into the Prince's face; with a sudden startled cry she clutched him closer, and turned a terrified face over her shoul

r? Or is she one of th

d have pressed it across her scornful mouth and kept back her bitter words. But she did

my lord,

op of Modenstein was half

ould suffer you to kill me and me to take death at your hands. But neith

y hanging over the side of the couch. The Bishop's eyes met Ludwig's, and with a "God forgive me!" he let the sword slip back, and, springing across the room, fell on his knees beside the couch. He broke the gold chain round his neck and grasped the crucifix which it carried in one hand, while with the ot

?" asked th

andered back to the cou

it will k

n. "I care not," said the Princess again. "Ah, she is

ed her eyes, and in an instant, answering the summons, the Prince was by her side, kneeling and holding her hand very ten

the Prince, obeying, rose and withdrew into the bay of the windo

fice; the lady's eyes dwelt on him now in peace and restfulness, and she held Prince Ludwig's hand in her small hand. But Osra would not kneel; she stood upright, still and cold, as thoug

ysician in the

ame," said

eemed to hear nothing save the sad and piteous sobs that had shaken the girl as she hung about Ludwig's neck. But she strove to drive away her softer thoughts, fanning her fury when it burnt low, an

" she said, "but i

fection of the heart, and this shock has killed her. Ind

broke again fr

the couch, and looked down at the lady. The lady looked at her with wondering

ully happy, so that they three all watched her and we

a suddenly, and she fell on her knees beside th

he purest in this world," said the Bishop. "F

ng at the Prince, and he, still holding the l

e winds all that kept me from her. I remember when first I met her-ah, my sweet, do you remember? From that day to this in soul she has been mine, and I hers in all my life. But

she laid one hand timidly on the couch, near to

ho had seemed dead, with an effort raised herself on her elbow, and spok

se be to the Blessed Saints who kept me strong. Yet at the last I was weak. I could not live without another sight of his face; and so-I came. Next week I am-I was to tak

she moved her hand ne

and we were even then parting when you came. Why, why did I come?" For a moment her voice died away in a low soft moan

ce now close to the lady's. "You mus

eard what she said, but they heard only that Osra sobbed. Presently the lady's arms relaxed a little in their hold, and Osra, having kissed her again, rose and signed to Ludwig

the Bishop stole out softly,

g painful path, and has tak

while, she looked up and saw Prince Ludwig standing before her. He was composed and calm; but it seemed as if half the life had gone out of his face. Osra rose slowly t

me, for

, forgive me

your nobility would have allowed me to do openly. The guilt is mine." And

she

vered her face with her hands and blindly groped her way

. I seemed to you a fool and a churl. I grieved most bitterly, and I wronged you bitterly. My excuse for all is now known. For though you are more

ew that the vision was still with him though his love was dead. Suddenly he seemed to her a man she also might love and for whom

e again, and, kneeling bef

"back with me to my home, there to mourn fo

elt, and presently she said to him in a

what she

me. I know

uld do it?"

before she died. But now you k

face. But she grew grave again and sat there, seeming to be pondering,

you to love. Now what is th

d her eyes again to his, saying in a voice that

She paused here, and for a moment hid her face with her hand. "Yet I cannot," she went on. "Is it our Lord Christ who bids us take the lower place? I cannot take it. He does not s

w tenderness and felt that what had passed rather drew them together than made any separation

rve you and you would be nearest an

e with an air of wistful longing; and she knit her brows as th

not e

hey two went back together to where the Bishop of

and stretched her hand out to the

, she left the Prince there by the side of his love and herself went out; and,

nk of me," she s

still with her, ma

he way they spoke to one another only a few words, both being sunk deep in thought. But once O

at is it? Do

ave known it," an

are a C

said he, and h

fixing her eyes on his;

make me underst

ll he kept his eyes averted. Osra wondered why he kept his eyes tur

hman. But I do not. Many men have said they loved me,

ome," said

me then to

t," he

t ever come to

f Glottenberg had loved; yet, since she saw Ludwig no more, and the joy of youth conquers sadness, she ceased to mo

not even the Bishop of