"My child—"
At these words the young girl, sobbing wildly, threw herself into his arms.
"Oh, prince," she cried, "do not recall those words; call me your child. There is on this earth no creature more desolate, more unhappy than I am."
Prince Theobald laid, his hand kindly upon the fair head of the sobbing girl and kissed her gently on the forehead.
"Be it so," he said. "Look up and smile, Eveline. I am in earnest. You are almost a child, and you shall be one to me. I will be your father—no, your grandfather. Fathers love their children sometimes, but not always; but grandfathers never fail in loving their grandchildren. You shall be my little granddaughter. When I am sad you will cheer me with your gay chatter; you will read or sing to me when I cannot sleep; you will care for me and nurse me when I am ill. I shall adopt you as my child. I shall take care of you, and provide you with all that you want. In return you will obey me; you will listen to me; you will bear with an old man's whims and his petulant temper; you will try and please me. I promise you that you shall be treated well. You shall be mistress over all that I have; you shall have everything suitable to the position of my daughter; but I must exact the obedience of a child."
Eveline answered by kissing her benefactor's hand.
"Are you pleased at my proposal? Do you think you will be happy?"
Eveline laughed in childish delight. She danced about the room in her joy, and fell down at the prince's feet, crying out:
"Oh, my dear, dear grandpapa!"
Prince Theobald threw himself back on the sofa and burst into a harsh, bitter laugh.