“Not that it would be so long, and besides—— Oh, I know I disobeyed you, Cyril; but I was really frightened when I heard what Dr Danilovics said. I made Baroness von Hilfenstein go and question M. Paschics, and happily he was able to assure her that he thought the doctor was taking too gloomy a view of your case. That satisfied me, for I knew he could not say more, as she is not in our secret. But if it had been true what they said, nothing should have kept me from you. I would have come and nursed you; I would have refused to let you die. The world might know the truth, and welcome! I am not ashamed of loving you.”
“Sometimes I almost wish you were,” said Cyril, looking into her earnest face. “I don’t want to scold you, Ernestine; but you might have ruined us both——”
“But I did not, after all, so you must forgive me. And I am keeping you standing while I talk! Sit down here—yes, in my chair—and let me put this footstool for you. Yes, I will wait upon you—I love to do it. Dear Cyril, won’t you say that you are pleased to see me again?”
“Is there any use in saying what your Majesty knows already?”
“I should like to hear it from your own lips. You have found the days a little long, haven’t you?”
“Very,” responded Cyril, with perfect truth. “They seem to have had a lifetime crammed into them.”
Ernestine looked perplexed. “I should have thought they would seem empty,” she said hesitatingly.
“A lifetime of misery, dearest, of course. You cannot imagine how fast the brain works under such circumstances.”
“I believe you are trying to tease me,” she said, detecting in his tone something that, if not exactly false, was assumed; but as she bent forward to look into his face, the raised voice of Anna Mirkovics struck on their ears from the anteroom.
“Monsieur, I tell you that her Majesty is engaged in going through the household books with his Ex——with Count Mortimer. I cannot imagine that she will receive your Excellency at present.”