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He loosened his sword fro with diamonds, and

humbly laid both at Natalie's feet

"Princess," said he, "the eirded me with this sword, and

I swore it should never leave my side but with my life You are dearer

to me than my life or my honor, and I therefore break my sacred oath

Take er have

occasion to trely shook her head "You still reh without

arms--it lies in your eyes!"

"I would close my eyes," said he, "but then I should not see you,

princess, and I have already so long languished for a sight of you!"

"Why, then, ca herself

entirely cheerful and unembarrassed "Oh, did you but kno

impatiently I have awaited you!"

And with childish innocence she began to relate how ht

of him, how often she had dreamed of him, how she had soht she heard his answers!

Count Orloff listened to her with surprise and delight Thus had he not

expected to find her, so childishly cheerful, so charly innocent,

and yet at the sanity Now she laughed like a child, noas her face serious and

proud, now again tender and ti woel, and yet so full of sweet,