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The duke sat at the head of the table and her serene highness at the foot; and it was by the force of his brilliant wit that the princess did not hold in perpetuity the court at her end of the table For a Gerhly acco mentality which rounded out and perfected her physical loveliness Above and beyond all this, she had suffered, she had felt the pangs of poverty, the snized merit; she had been one of the people, and her sympathies would always be with theuely knew, the patience, the un bravery of the poor Never would she becoht to aid the people Never a new tax was levied that she did not lighten it in soated that she did not soften its severity And so the populace loved her, for it did not take the people long to find out what she was trying to do for thereater part of her young life as one of theht there was love in the duke's eyes as he looked down the table's length; there was love in the old chancellor's eyes, too; and in Carazed back at the two old men But who could read her eyes whenever they roved in Carrand

"Gentlelass, "this night I give you a toast which I believe will be agreeable to all of you, especially to his excellency, Baron von Steinbock of Jugendheit What is past is past; a new regiht" He paused All eyes were focused upon him in wonder Only Baron von Steinbock displayed no ive you," resuhness and his rew delicately pale as theto their feet Every hand swept toward her, holding a glass She had surrendered thatNot because she wished to be a queen, not because she cared to bring about an alliance between the two countries; no, it was because she was afraid and had burned the bridge behind her

The tan thinned on Caret the tableau She sat still in her chair, her lids drooped, but a proud lift to her chin The collar of pearls round her neck had scarce ainst the whiteness of her skin! Beautiful to him beyond all dreams of beauty God send another war and let hi! To dream lies as he had done this twelvelass down untouched, happily unobserved He was in misery; he wanted to be alone