egan to sob softly:

"Tired ... of everything ... mamma."

She looked at him for a long time, shook her head slowly,
disapprovingly.

"Forgive me, mamma," he stammered, wiping his eyes. "I shan't give way
like this again...."

"You promised me that once before, Othomar dear."

He leant his head against her once more, like a child:

"No, really," he declared, caressingly, "I really will resist it. It is
not right of me, mamma. I will employ myself more, I shall grow
stronger. I swear to you I shall grow stronger for your sake...."

She again looked long in his eyes, with her pure smile. Utter tenderness
went out from her to him; he felt that he would never love any one so
much as his mother. Then she took him in her arms and pressed him close
against her:

"I accept your promise and I thank you ... my poor boy!" she whispered
through her kiss.

At this moment there came a buzz of young voices, as though from birds
set free, out of the park, through the open windows. The tripping of
many little feet grated on the gravel. A high, shrill, childish voice
suddenly rang with furious words from among the others; the others were
silent....

The empress started with a shock that was electric. She drew herself up
hastily, deadly pale:

"Berengar!" she cried; and her voice died away.

"And I shall tell his majesty what a scoundrel you are and then we'll
see! Then we'll see, then we'll see!..."

The empress trembled as she leant out of the window. She saw ten or
eleven little boys; they looked perplexed.

"Where is his highness?" she asked.

"His highness is over there, ma'am!" shyly answered a little count,
pointing to the back-court, which the empress could not see.

"But what is happening? What a noise to make! Send his highness here at
once! Berengar! Berengar!"

His highness, Berengar, was called and came. He passed through the
little dukes and counts and looked up at the window through which his
mother was leaning. He was a small, sturdily built, vigorous little
chap; his face was crimson with indignation, his two small, furious eyes
were like two black sparks.

"Berengar, come here!" cried the empress. "What is all this? Why can't
you play without quarrelling?"

"I'm not quarrelling, mamma, but ... but I shall tell papa ... and ...
and then we'll see! Then we'll ..."

"Berengar, come in here at once, through the palace, at once!" commanded
the empress.

Othomar looked out from behind the empress a