"No, really," he declared, caressingly, "I really will resist it. It is not right of me, mamma. I will employ myself more, I shall grow stronger. I swear to you I shall grow stronger for your sake...."
She again looked long in his eyes, with her pure smile. Utter tenderness went out from her to him; he felt that he would never love any one so much as his mother. Then she took him in her arms and pressed him close against her:
"I accept your promise and I thank you ... my poor boy!" she whispered through her kiss.
At this moment there came a buzz of young voices, as though from birds set free, out of the park, through the open windows. The tripping of many little feet grated on the gravel. A high, shrill, childish voice suddenly rang with furious words from among the others; the others were silent....
The empress started with a shock that was electric. She drew herself up hastily, deadly pale:
"Berengar!" she cried; and her voice died away.
"And I shall tell his majesty what a scoundrel you are and then we'll see! Then we'll see, then we'll see!..."
The empress trembled as she leant out of the window. She saw ten or eleven little boys; they looked perplexed.
"Where is his highness?" she asked.
"His highness is over there, ma'am!" shyly answered a little count, pointing to the back-court, which the empress could not see.