She beckoned Madame Gunther to draw near, and, accompanied by her, walked about the garden.
"And so I see you to-day, for the first time," said the queen. "I trust that you do not look upon me as a stranger?"
"Your Majesty, it is the first time in my life that I address a queen, and I entreat you--"
"Your husband has been as a father to me, and I wish that you, too-- But let us leave it to the future to determine our impressions of each other. Permit me, however, to request you to cast aside a little of your Swiss prejudice against royalty."
"Your Majesty, I am a citizen of your country."
"I am delighted that our first meeting is in your own house. Do you still sing much? I've been told that you used to sing beautifully."
"Your Majesty, I've left that to the younger voices of my children. Paula sings."
"How charming! I have long regretted that none of the ladies of our more immediate circle sing well."
Like a passing shadow, the thought of Irma flashed through the queen's mind. She was standing by the stream that flowed down from the mountain meadow, and which here noisily rushed by.
The queen remained in the pavilion but a short time. When she was about to leave, she said to Madame Gunther: