Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Prince Otto

200 PRINCE OTTO
ately — not at all ? Both or neither — both, I
beheve ; but at least I will make hay of Eatafia.'
By the time she had passed the iron gates,
mounted the drive, and set her foot upon the
broad flagged terrace, the night had come com-
pletely ; the jialace front was thick with lighted
windows ; and along the balustrade, the lamp on
every twentieth baluster shone clear. A few
withered tracks of sunset, amber and glow-worm
green, still lingered in the western sky ; and she
paused once again to watch them fading.
' And to think,' she said, ' that here am I —
destiny embodied, a norn, a fate, a providence —
and have no guess upon which side I shall declare
myself ! What other woman in my place would
not be prejudiced, and think herself committed ?
But, thank Heaven ! I was born just ! ' Otto's win-
dows were bright among the rest, and she looked
on them with rising tenderness. ' How does it
feel to be deserted ? ' she thought. ' Poor dear fool I
The girl deserves that he should see this order.'
Without more delay, she passed into the
palace and asked for an audience of Prince Otto.
The Prince, she was told, was in his own apart-
ment, and desired to be private. She sent her
name. A man presently returned with word
that the Prince tendered his apologies, but could
see no one. ' Then I will write,' she said, and
scribbled a few lines alleging urgency of life and