“No, he will not lose you, my sweet queen. For when we are married we will still dwell in Melnos, and reign over it through years of happiness.”
“My father wants you to be his successor?”
“Yes; and to marry you. So if you fulfil the first, I will accept the second.”
“I will marry you whenever you like,” said beautiful Helena, smiling through her tears. “But will you not weary of staying here?”
“With you? never!”
“Ah, it is I who am the attraction—not Melnos!”
“It is both; but in my eyes you are before everything else in the world.”
“And if you grow tired of me?”
“I will never grow tired of you!”
Helena picked up a rose from her lap and held it up to him.