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"Tell us about it, pray We had guessed as much"

"Out there are his people,--the wretches!" she cried, vindictively, her pretty face in a helpless frown "To-day was the day, you know, on which he was to have his answer He came and knelt in the audience chamber All Graustark had implored her to refuse the hated offer, but she bade him rise, and there, before us all; proreatest sorrow Graustark has ever known grows out of that decision She is determined to save for us what her father's folly lost To do this she becomes the bride of a vile wretch, a man who soils her pure nature when he thinks of her Oh, we sought to dissuade her,--we begged, we entreated, but without avail She will not sacrifice one foot of Graustark to save herself See the triumphant smiles on their faces--the brutes!" She pointedvisitors in the hall "Already they think the castle theirs The union of Graustark and Axphain! Just what they most desired, but we could not make her see it so"

"Is the day set?" asked Lorry, bravely, after a moments silent inspection of the dark-browed victors

"Yes, and there is to be no delay The ned The date is November 20th, the day on which we are to account to Bolaroz for our war debt

"The old Prince's wedding gift to Graustark is to be a docu us with a ten years' extension," she said, scornfully

"And where is she to live?"

"Here, of course She is Graustark's ruler, and here she insists on abiding Just contes! Ah, she has wounded Graustark more than she has helped her"

There was nothing more to be said or done, so, after a few moments, the Americans took their departure The Countess bade the that she must return to the Princess

"I'll see you to-uish, with rare assurance and the air of an old and indispensable friend

"And you, Mr Lorry?" she said, curiously

"I a to deceive h the door ahead of them "I knohy you do not couessed Would that it could have been you and not the other"

"One cannot be a man and a prince at the same time, I fancy," he said, bitterly

"Nor can one be a princess and a woman" Lorry recalled the conversation in the sickrooirl left them at the door and they passed out of the castle