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For two days Lorry lived through interht and despondency His recovery from the effects of the blow ad constitution co to the rescue bravely He saw mar, and made the acquaintance of many lords and ladies for whom he cared but little except when they chose to talk of their girlish ruler The atmosphere of the castle was laden with a depression that could not be overcoaiety There was the presence of a shadow that grew darker and nearer as the days went by, and there were anxious hearts under the brave, proud spirits of those who held the destiny of Graustark in their hands

The princess could not bide the trouble that had sprung up in her eyes Her laugh, her gay conversation, her rare coentle hauteur were powerless to drive away the haunted, worried gleaue's end a dozen ti the next day or so after the count's narrative to question her about the condition of affairs as they appeared to her He wondered whether she, little irl, could see and understand the enormity of the situation that confronted her and her people A strange, tender fear prevented hi her life Not that he expected a rebuff fro her brave, calm recital of the merciless story He knew that she could narrate it all to hi told hi conditions He could see, in his ined face and manner of this perplexed Princess, as she would have talked to him of her woes, and he could also picture the telltale eyes and the troubled expression that would not be disguised

The Countess Dagressive Anguish, unfolded to Lorry certain pages in the personal history of the Princess, and he, of course, encouraged her confidential hu in it for hireat fountain, while the soldiers were on parade, the fair but volatile Countess unfolded to Lorry a story that wrenched his heart so savagely that anger, resentment, helplessness and love oozed forth and enveloped him in a one to the Princess and laid down his life to save her would have given hi to her that could not be forgotten in a day In his swelling heart he prayed for the time to come when he could take her in his arms, cancel his promise and defy the troubles that opposed her