Hermengarde felt very uneasy at the Empress' silence with regard to Erwin. Was he no longer in the Camp? Had he accompanied the Emperor to Lodi, or perhaps returned to Germany? The doubts annoyed her, and in her agitation she paced her room with hurried steps.
"You must be tired," said the maid who attended her. "Why in the world do you run about in that way? I feel quite broken down, and yet you seem as lively as if you had not ridden fourteen miles to-day."
"Youth bears fatigue easily, but I have been wrong, dear Hedwige, to make you come such a tiresome journey."
"Wrong! and who but I should accompany you? Your father was away, and you could not come to the Court alone."
"Oh! Hedwige, you remind me that I have been doubly wrong: first in tiring you, and then in coming away without my father's permission."
"You could not have declined such an honor. How silly! Many a prince's daughter would have been flattered by such an invitation! No, no; you did quite right to accept it."
"But my father's consent?"
"Nonsense! Your father would have been proud of the honor paid you; do not doubt it a moment."
"Still"--
"Hush!--some one is coming."