"You speak as if she were a child and you a grave and sedate matron, Althea," declared Bessie. "And there can't be more than a year or two between you."
"Three years, Bessie. Chalice is only twenty; and I am her aunt, you know."
We all smiled at this. "But that is no reason why you should get into all this bother on account of the Prince," objected Bessie.
"The simplest thing will be to let the truth be known," I put in.
"Oh no, no," protested Althea vehemently. "Anything but that; at any rate for the present. Herr Grumpel declares her voice will take the whole country by storm; and she is to make her début soon. She has a brilliant future before her, and if she were to incur the displeasure of the Court at such a time it would ruin everything."
"But Prince von Graven won't wish his wife to be a singer," I objected, "even supposing such a marriage were ever sanctioned."
"Chalice declares she will not do a thing to hurt his interests. That is why she will not have a betrothal."
"But what about you, Althea?" cried Bessie indignantly. "Are you to be packed off to prison or out of the country in order that the secret may be kept?"
"It must be kept, Bessie," said Althea very decidedly.
"I think a little plain talk to the Prince would be a good thing," I suggested.