This indifference on her part may
have been the result of cool premeditation. In any event, it served
to check the impulsive ardour of the Prince, who, it is to be feared,
had lost something in the way of self-restraint. It is certain--
absolutely certain--that had she come forward to meet him, she would
have found herself imprisoned in a pair of strong, eager arms,--and a
crisis precipitated. He had to be content with a warm hand-clasp and
a smile of welcome that even the gloom could not hide from his
devouring eyes.
"My dear, dear Bedelia," he murmured. "I had almost given you up.
Three long days have I waited for you. You--"
"I have never broken a promise, Rex," she said coolly." It is you who
are to be commended, not I, for you see I was coming to Graustark
anyway. I should not have been surprised if you had failed me, sir.
It is a long way from Vienna to this out-of-the-way--"
"The most distant spot in the world would not have been too far away
to cause an instant's hesitation on my part," said he, dropping into
the chair opposite her.
Pages:
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470