“No, Highness, I had heard nothing.”
“But you knew about it?”
“Only what I heard to-night. Of course, there are always rumors.”
“As to the other, the matter my mother referred to,” Hedwig held her head very high, “I—she was unjust. Am I never to have any friends?”
The Countess turned and, separating the curtains, surveyed the room within. Annunciata was asleep, and beyond, Hilda was playing dreamily, and very softly, as behooves one whose bedtime is long past. When the Countess dropped the curtain, she turned abruptly to Hedwig.
“Friends, Highness? One may have friends, of course. It is not friendship they fear.”
“What then?”
“A lover,” said the Countess softly. “It is impossible to see Captain Larisch in your presence, and not realize—”
“Go on.”
“And not realize, Highness, that he is in love with you.”