“Glorious, indeed. Don’t hurry. Call out the moment you are ready. We are just in the next room.”
“Thank you; we shall be with you in ten minutes.”
She listened to his firm steps and heard the outer door being closed. For a moment she stood smiling at the wooden partition.
“Helène, Helène, where are we?”
She turned quickly and found the Princess sitting up in bed, her hair in disorder and her great dark eyes staring frightened at her.
“Oh, my darling,” she cried, running up to her, “get up and dress at once. It’s so lovely and beautiful outside. I have just been speaking with Mr. Morton, who came to tell us that breakfast would soon be ready. I am so hungry that I could eat all Roumelia.”
“I didn’t know where I was when I woke up,” sighed the Princess, “and when I found you were not by my side I got frightened.”
“There is nothing to be afraid of now. Mr. Morton says we are quite safe. Come, let me be your maid this morning,—we must put on pleasant faces if only to show Mr. Morton that we have confidence in him.”
“You are right, dear Helène. I am afraid I’ve been a bit of a kill-joy. But, oh, you don’t know what I’ve suffered.”
“I do know, dear Princess, and I feel for you in all my soul. But the danger is passed now, and you will soon be with your friends.”