that, as matters now stand, a
marriage between us would be rather absurd?"

"Now, as at all times," retorted Gretchen, scornfully. "It has never
been my will," a furtive glance at the King.

"But--" began the King. He was wrathful.

"Your Majesty," said the innkeeper, "you are a great King; be a
generous one."

All looked at him as though they expected to see the King fly at him
and demolish him--all but I. The King walked up to the bold speaker,
took his measure, then, with his hands clasped behind his back, resumed
his pacing. After a while he came to a standstill.

"Your Highness," he said to Phyllis, "what shall I do with this man who
has so grossly wronged you?"

"Forgive him."

The King passed on. I was not looking at him, but at the innkeeper. I
saw his lip tremble and his eyes fill. Suddenly he fell upon his knees
before Phyllis and raised her hand to his lips.

"Will Your Highness forgive a sinner who only now realizes the wrong he
has done to you?"

"Yes, I forgive you," said Phyllis. "The only wrong you have done to
me is to have made me a Princess. Your Majesty will forgive me, but it
is all so strange to me who have grown up in a foreign land which is
dearer to my heart than the land in which I was born."

I felt a thrill of pride, and I saw that Mr. Wentworth's lips had
formed into a "God bless her!"

"It is a question now," said the King, "only of duty."

"And Your Majesty's will regarding my marriage?" put in the Prince,
holding his watch in his hand. It was ten o'clock.

"Well, well! It shall be as you desire." Then to me: "I thank you in
the name of Their Highnesses for your services. And you, Mr.
Wentworth, shall always have the good will of the King for presenting
to his court so accomplished and beautiful a woman as Her Highness the
Princess Elizabeth. Hermann Breunner, return to your inn and remain
there; your countenance brings back disagreeable recollections. I
shall expect Your Highnesses at dinner this evening. Prince, I leave
to you the pleasant task of annulling your nuptial preparations. Good
morning. Ah! these women!" as he passed from the room. "They are our
mothers, so we must suffer their caprices."

And as we men followed him we saw Gretchen weeping silently on
Phyllis's shoulder.

The innkeeper touched the Prince.

"I give you fair warning," he said. "If our paths cross again, one of
us shall go on alone."

"I should be very lonely without you