some
definite hope--some definite promise that, when you are free, you will
give yourself to me and will be my wife----?"

And she had answered--with more fervor than she really felt, because she
would hide some unaccountable reluctance:

"Yes--I have written to-day to my lawyer, Mr. Parsons--to advise me how
to begin to take the necessary steps--and when it all goes through,
then--yes--I will marry you."

But she would not let him kiss her, which he showed signs of desiring to
do.

"You must wait until I am free, though my marriage is no tie; it has
never been one--after the first year. I will tell you the whole story,
if you want to hear it--but I wish to forget it all--only it is fair for
you to know there is no disgrace connected with it in any way."

"I should not care one atom if there were," Henry said, ecstatically.
"You yourself could never have touched any disgrace. Your eyes are as
pure as the stars!"

"I was extremely ignorant and foolish, as one is at seventeen. And now I
want to make something of life--some great thing--and your goodness and
your high and fine ideals will help me."

"My dearest!" he had cried fervently.

Sabine had said to the Princess that night, as they talked in their
sitting-room:

"Do you know, Morri, I have almost decided to marry this
Englishman--some day. You have often told me I was foolish not to free
myself from any bonds, however lightly they held me--and I have never
wanted to--but now I do--at once--as soon as possible--before--my
husband can suggest being free of me! I have written to Mr. Parsons
already--and I suppose it will not take very long. The laws there, I
believe, are not so binding as in England--" and then she stopped short.

"The laws--where?" Moravia could not refrain from asking; her curiosity
had at last won the day.

"In Scotland, Morri. He was a Scotchman, not an American at all as every
one supposes."

The Princess' eyes opened wide--and she had to bite her lips to keep
from asking more.

"I have never seen him since the day after we were married--there cannot
be any difficulty about getting a divorce--can there?"

"None, I should think," the Princess said shortly, and they kissed one
another good-night and each went to her room.

But Moravia sat a long time, after her maid had left her, staring into
space.

Fate was very cruel and contrary. It gave her everything that most
people could want, and refused her the one thing she desired h