"I would I had but one for both of us."
"Yes."
"But we should not go quick enough."
"No."
He took his hand from her waist and stood away from her.
"You will not come?" he said.
"If you doubt of my coming, I will not come. Ah, do not doubt of my coming! For there is a great hoard of fears and black thoughts beating at the door, and you must not open it."
"And what can keep it shut, my Princess?"
"I think your arm, my Prince," said she; and she flew to him.
That evening King Rudolf swore that if a man were only firm enough and kept his temper (which, by the way, the King had not done, though none dared say so), he could bring any foolish girl to reason in good time. For in the softest voice, and with the strangest smile flitting to her face, the Princess Osra was pleased to bid the embassy come on the fifth day from then.