Fiction > Book editions > London, 1888 - Prince Otto

172 PRINCE OTTO
constellations ; the face sketched in shadows — a
sketch, you might say, by passion. Otto be-
came consoled for his defeat ; he began to take
an interest. ' No,' he said, ' I am no ingrate.'
' You promised me fun,' she returned, with
a laugh. ' I have given you as good. We have
had a stormy seen a.'
He laughed in his turn, and the sound of the
laughter, in either case, was hardly reassuring.
' Come, what are you going to give me in
exchange,' she continued, 'for my excellent
declamation .^ '
' What you will,' he said.
'Whatever I will.? Upon your honour?
Suppose I asked the crown .? ' She was flashing
upon him, beautiful in triumph.
' Upon my honour,' he replied.
'Shall I ask the crown.?' she continued.
' Nay ; what should I do with it .? Grunewald
is but a petty state ; my ambition swells above
it. I shall ask— I find I want nothing,' she
concluded. ' I will give you something instead.
I will give you leave to kiss me — once.'
Otto drew near, and she put up her face;
they were both smiling, both on the brink of
laughter, all was so innocent and playful ; and
the Prince, when their hps encountered, was
dumbfounded by the sudden convulsion of his
being. Both drew instantly apart, and for an