“I am so sorry.”
“It was better as it was. I would not have had him grow up to be like one of these young thieves.”
Maximilian thought of his experiences of that night, and sighed.
“Come, let me help you,” he said, after a minute’s pause. “You do not like the life you are leading. Should you not like to leave it, and go back to your home?”
“No. Better leave me alone. You cannot help me.”
“Do not say that. Perhaps my power is greater than you think. Are your parents living?”
“Yes. O my God, why do you make me speak of them?” she burst out. “You can do nothing for me. You do not know, you cannot understand. My father, I can see him now, with the great family Bible on his knee, reading out the curse, and then solemnly striking my name out of the names of his children. And my mother, looking on, and weeping, but bidding me go forth and never return, lest my example should corrupt her other daughters. And so I am an outcast, an outcast forever, and no repentance will ever restore me to my place at the old fireside. And you, not if you were the King himself, you could never change the hearts of those two, and make them love me as they did when I was a little child.”
She broke off, sobbing, and before the King could stay her, she had turned, and was fleeing away in the darkness of the night.
CHAPTER XIII
THE STATE PRISON
For some time after the parting words of the girl, Maximilian and his companion walked on in silence. Johann saw that the King was profoundly affected by what he had just listened to, and did not venture to disturb his reflections. At length Maximilian raised his head, and gave utterance to the thoughts of his mind.