Count Mensdorff gently stroked their hair as he drew the two children nearer to him, and pressed a kiss on their pure white brows.
"Good night, my children," he said, affectionately; "thank you for staying up to see me. I hope you have been industrious and good all day."
"Of course we have, papa," cried both the children with proud certainty, "or they would not have let us stay up to see you!"
The minister's eyes, before so sad, shone with affection; no one could have imagined that this man, with his mild face and smiling look,--his two children in his arms,--that this was the man who was to guide a great empire through its most dangerous crisis, and to encounter Germany's mightiest and bloodiest catastrophe.
"Sleep well, my children," said Count Mensdorff. "God bless you!" He kissed them once more, and made the sign of the cross over their heads.
He looked happy until they left the room, then his eyes grew sad again. "They are happy," he whispered; "care has not yet robbed them of sleep."
He rose and rang a bell.
The attendant entered.
"Does the countess entertain a large party?"
"It is a small reception day, but the guests are very numerous."