Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Prince Otto

2i6 PRINCE OTTO
enough to know you dare not break with me
to-night, and to profit by the knowledge. I left
my poor, pretty Prince Charming crying his eyes
out for a wooden doll. My heart is soft ; I love
my pretty Prince ; you will never understand
it, but I long to give my Prince his doll, drj^
his poor eyes, and send him off happy. 0,
you immature fool!' the Countess cried, rising
to her feet, and pointing at the Princess the
closed fan that now began to tremble in her
liand. ' wooden doll ! ' she cried, ' have you
a heart, or blood, or any nature ? This is a
man, child — a man who loves you. 0, it will
not hajDpen twice ! it is not common ; beautiful
and clever women look in vain for it. And you,
vou pitiful schoolgirl, tread this jewel underfoot!
you, stupid with your vanity ! Before you try
to govern kingdoms, you should first be able
to behave yourself at home ; home is the
woman's kingdom.' She paused and laughed
a httle, strangely to hear and look upon. ' I
will tell you one of the things,' she said, ' that
were to stay unspoken. Yon Eosen is a better
woman than you, my Princess, though you will
never have the pain of understanding it ; and
when I took the Prince your order, and looked
upon his face, my soul was melted — 0, I am
frank — here, within my arms, I offered him
repose ! ' She advanced a step superbly as she