"Once more round, and—we'll think about it. Now, last lap!"
He stepped cautiously along, and was nearing the end of the fifth round, when all of a sudden she jumped up and gave him a push that sent him into the water up to his waist.
"No, that's not fair, Baby. I won."
She danced up and down, clapping her hands and laughing delightedly.
"Adieu, Endresen! my sincere admiration. It was splendid! But I don't think I'll walk home with you now, or people might think you'd been drowning yourself for my sake." And she ran off. Coming through the town she encountered old Consul Endresen, who stopped, as usual, to talk to her.
"You're looking younger than ever, Consul," said the Princess.
"Am I, though? Oh, you know how to get at an old man's heart, little sunbeam that you are! Looking younger than ever, eh—and I'm sixty-seven to-day," which, by the way, was three years less than the truth.
"To-day? Oh, then I must wish you many happy returns—and here, let me give you these flowers."
He stopped in surprise.
"But, my dearest child, you don't mean it, surely? These flowers, these charming roses, they were for somebody else now, I'm sure."