t: the huntsmen
would all die for you."

"Happy Prince!" said Otto. "But although you are too courteous to avow
the knowledge, you have had many opportunities of learning that I am a
vain show. Only last night we heard it very clearly stated. You see the
shadow flitting on this hard rock? Prince Otto, I am afraid, is but the
moving shadow, and the name of the rock is Gondremark. Ah! if your
friends had fallen foul of Gondremark! But happily the younger of the
two admires him. But as for the old gentleman your father, he is a wise
man and an excellent talker, and I would take a long wager he is
honest."

"O, for honest, your Highness, that he is!" exclaimed the girl. "And
Fritz is as honest as he. And as for all they said, it was just talk and
nonsense. When countryfolk get gossiping, they go on, I do assure you,
for the fun; they don't as much as think of what they say. If you went
to the next farm, it's my belief you would hear as much against my
father."

"Nay, nay," said Otto, "there you go too fast. For all that was said
against Prince Otto----"

"O, it was shameful!" cried the girl.

"Not shameful--true," returned Otto. "O, yes--true. I am all they said
of me--all that and worse."

"I never!" cried Ottilia. "Is that how you do? Well, you would never be
a soldier. Now, if anyone accuses me, I get up and give it them. O, I
defend myself. I wouldn't take a fault at another person's hands, no,
not if I had it on my forehead. And that's what you must do, if you
mean to live it out. But, indeed, I never heard such nonsense. I should
think you was ashamed of yourself! You're bald, then, I suppose?"

"O, no," said Otto, fairly laughing. "There I acquit myself: not bald!"

"Well, and good?" pursued the girl. "Come now, you know you are good,
and I'll make you say so.... Your Highness, I beg your humble pardon.
But there's no disrespect intended. And anyhow, you know you are."

"Why, now, what am I to say?" replied Otto. "You are a cook, and
excellently well you do it; I embrace the chance of thanking you for the
ragout. Well now, have you not seen good food so bedevilled by unskilful
cookery that no one could be brought to eat the pudding? That is me, my
dear. I am full of good ingredients, but the dish is worthless. I am--I
give it you in one word--sugar in the salad."

"Well, I don't care, you're good," reiterated Ottilia, a little flushed
by having failed to understand.

"I will tell you one thing," replied