A troubled look came over the girl’s face.
“I should not like it at all. I do not think I could bear it, to be there with all those lords and ladies. They would despise me, and I should be afraid of them.”
“I do not think you would find that they despised you if you came there as my guest,” answered the Princess, gravely.
Dorothea’s eyes rounded once more. There seemed to be nothing but surprises in store for her to-day.
“Pardon me, Madam, but you have not—you did not tell me—”
“My name is Hermengarde. I am the King’s aunt.” And she lay back in her chair to see how the young girl would take the announcement.
Dorothea’s first feeling was one of dismay. All these startling events coming one upon another had completely unsettled her mind. She felt herself being gradually swept out of her depth. The old peaceful life of childhood was over, and she was being called upon to go forth into the world under circumstances of trial and danger of which she had never had any conception.
She directed an earnest, imploring gaze at the Princess, as if asking whether she could throw herself upon her for sincere and friendly counsel. Then she said—
“I hardly know how to speak to your Royal Highness. I am afraid that you must think me very presumptuous. I hope you believe that I never knew it was his Majesty.”
Hermengarde looked at her graciously, not ill pleased at the evident awe she had excited.