this time," and she
put her hand upon his arm, and laughingly drew him along. Brandon, of
course, had to submit when led by so sweet a captor--anybody would. So
fresh, and fair, and lovable was Jane, that I am sure anything
masculine _must_ have given way.

Coming up to the princess and her ladies, who were waiting, Jane said:
"Lady Mary, let me present Master Brandon, who, if he has offended in
any way, humbly sues for pardon." That was the one thing Brandon had
no notion on earth of doing, but he let it go as Jane had put it, and
this was his reward:

"It is not Master Brandon who should sue for pardon," responded the
princess, "it is I who was wrong. I blush for what I did and said.
Forgive me, sir, and let us start anew." At this she stepped up to
Brandon and offered him her hand, which he, dropping to his knee,
kissed most gallantly.

"Your highness, you can well afford to offend when you have so sweet
and gracious a talent for making amends. 'A wrong acknowledged,' as
some one has said, 'becomes an obligation.'" He looked straight into
the girl's eyes as he said this, and his gaze was altogether too
strong for her, so the lashes fell. She flushed and said with a smile
that brought the dimples:

"I thank you; that is a real compliment." Then laughingly: "Much
better than extravagant comments on one's skin, and eyes, and hair. We
are going to the queen at the marble landing. Will you walk with us,
sir?" And they strolled away together, while the other girls followed
in a whispering, laughing group.

Was there ever so glorious a calm after such a storm?

"Then those mythological compliments," continued Mary, "don't you
dislike them?"

"I can't say that I have ever received many--none that I recall,"
replied Brandon, with a perfectly straight face, but with a smile
trying its best to break out.

"Oh! you have not? Well! how would you like to have somebody always
telling you that Apollo was humpbacked and misshapen compared with
you; that Endymion would have covered his face had he but seen yours,
and so on?"

"I don't know, but I think I should like it--from some persons," he
replied, looking ever so innocent.

This savored of familiarity after so brief an acquaintance, and caused
the princess to glance up in slight surprise; but only for the
instant, for his innocent look disarmed her.

"I have a mind to see," she returned, laughing and throwing her head
back, as she looked up at him out of the corne