“My dear Usk, this idyllic life in meads of asphodel is very nice, but it can’t last always. Little Helene must learn to come down into reality like that pleasant sister-in-law of hers, and she will do it with a much better grace than you think. She will bring the flowers with her, as Princess Franz said, if only you will let her.”
“But why not let things go on as they are? We might drift into an understanding at last, without making such a fuss about it.”
“Because the rest of the world is not standing still while you are drifting. In plain English, we must begin to make arrangements for Michael and Félicia’s wedding. Things are so far advanced that it’s safe to go to work quietly. It is not expedient that they should be married in Thracia, as they are both Protestants. They can’t be married at Vindobona, for the same reason, and therefore Molzau, as the seat of his family, is the natural place. Unless you have any objection, I should prefer to get you out of the way first. You have no particular wish to hang about at the ceremony, have you?”
“I? No, indeed!” Usk shuddered. “Well, I’ll speak to her somehow, and get something settled, but I shall always feel myself the biggest blackguard on the face of the earth.”
All the next day Usk went about with a remorsefully resolute expression, which was correctly interpreted not only by his uncle but by Princess Theresia, who was sympathetically prepared to give him every possible assistance. The wanderings of the four young people led them that day into one of the most difficult parts of the mountains, and about noon they left the pony at the hut of one of the Grand-Duke’s gamekeepers, since it would only be an encumbrance in their climb. The girls were very tired when they approached the hut again in the evening, and, to her husband’s alarm, Princess Resi seemed even more exhausted than her sister-in-law. She hung heavily on his arm, and walked so slowly that Usk and Helene were soon out of sight in front.
“You are much more tired than Lenchen,” said Prince Franz. “You must ride instead of her, or at least you must take turns.”
“I won’t! Why, it would spoil everything. No, you are not to shout to them, Franz. I won’t have you interrupt them.” Then, as he looked at her in astonishment, “He has been making up his mind to do it all day, and he shall have his chance.”
“To speak to Helene, do you mean? Well, I hope you see now that even an Englishman feels a little diffidence in the presence of a daughter of Schwarzwald-Molzau?”
“Because he has taken so long about it, you mean? Franz, it does surprise me to see how foolish even a rather nice man, such as yourself, can be!”
“At least I’m not too dull to see that your fatigue has suddenly disappeared in the heat of argument.”