'Forgive me, my beloved!' said Princess Ottilie, with quick contrition, whilst moisture sprang into her limpid and still luminous blue eyes.
Wanda von Szalras took the old abbess's hand in her own, and kissed it.
'I understand all you wish for me, dear aunt. Believe me, I envy people when I hear them laughing light-heartedly amongst each other. I think I shall never laugh so again.'
'If you would only marry——' said the Princess, with some hesitation.
'You think marriage amusing?' she said, with a certain contempt. 'If you do, it is only because you escaped it.'
'Amusing!' said the Princess, a little scandalised. 'I could speak of no Sacrament of our Holy Church as "amusing." You rarely display such levity of language. I confess I do not comprehend you. Marriage would give you interests in life which you seem to lack sadly now. It would restore you to the world. It would be a natural step to take with such vast possessions as yours.'
'It is not likely I shall ever take it,' said Wanda von Szalras, drawing the soft fine ear of Donau through her fingers.
'I know it is not likely. I am very sorry that it is not likely. Yet what nobler creature does God's earth contain than your cousin Egon?
'Egon? No: he is a good and brave and loyal gentleman, none better; but I shall no more marry him than Donau here will wed a forest doe.'
'Yet he has loved you for ten years. But if not he there are so many others, men of high enough place to be above all suspicion of mercenary motive. No woman has been more adored than you, Wanda. Look at Hugo Landrassy.'