Her thanks were sincerely meant, but there was no warmth or heartiness in them, and Waldemar's reply was equally cool.
"Pray don't, mother; you make me feel ashamed. The thing is settled--and now I can go to the shore at last, I suppose."
He seemed most desirous of escaping, and his mother detained him no longer. She knew too well to whom she owed her victory. Standing at the window, she watched the young man as he strode hastily along the garden walk towards the shore; then, turning to her desk again, she sat down to finish a letter she had been writing to her brother.
The letter was just completed, and the Princess was in the act of sealing it, when Leo made his appearance. He looked almost as heated as his brother had been previously; but, in his case, it was evidently some inner disturbance which sent the blood to his temples. With a frowning brow and lips tightly set, he drew near his mother, who looked up in surprise.
"What is the matter, Leo? Why do you come alone? Did Waldemar not find you and Wanda?"
"Oh, to be sure. He came to us a quarter of an hour ago," said Leo, in an agitated tone.
"And where is he now?"
"He has gone out for a sail with Wanda."
"Alone?"
"Yes, all alone."