a third I can be sitting at your side. It is not so difficult after
all," he said, hungrily eyeing the broad chair.

"No man, unless a prince, ever sat upon this throne," she said.

"You have called me a prince."

"Oh, I jested," she cried quickly, comprehending his intention. "I
forbid you!"

The command came too late, for he was beside her on the throne of
Graustark! She sat perfectly rigid for a moment, intense fear in her
eyes.

"Do you know what you have done?" she whispered, miserably.

"Usurped the throne," he replied, assuming an ease and complacence he
did not feel. Truly he was guilty of unprecedented presumption.

"You have desecrated--desecrated! Do you hear?" she went on, paying no
attention to his remark.

"Peccavi. Ah, Your Highness, I delight in my sin. For once I am a power;
I speak from the throne. You will not have me abdicate in the zenith
of my glory? Be kind, most gracious one. Besides, did you not once cry
because your uncle refused to sit with you? Had he been the possessor
of a dangerous wound, as I am, and had he found himself so weak that he
could stand no longer, I am sure he would have done as I have--sat down
in preference to falling limp at your feet. You do not know how badly I
am wounded," he pleaded, with the subtlest double meaning.

"Why should you wound me?" she asked, plaintively. "You have no right to
treat the throne I occupy as a subject for pranks and indignities. I did
not believe you could be so--forgetful." There was a proud and pitiful
resentment in her voice that brought him to his senses at once. He had
defiled her throne. In shame and humiliation he cried:

"I am a fool--an ingrate, You have been too gentle with me. For this
despicable act of mine I cannot ask pardon and it would be beneath you
to grant it. I have hurt you, and I can never atone. I forgot how sacred
is your throne. Let me depart in disgrace." He stood erect as if
to forsake the throne he had stained, but she, swayed by a complete
reversal of feeling, timidly, pleadingly touched his arm.

"Stay! It is my throne, after all. I shall divide it, as well as the
sin, with you. Sit down again, I beg of you. For a brief spell I would
rule beside a man who is fit to be a king but who is a desecrator.
There can be no harm and no one shall be the wiser for this sentimental
departure from royal custom. We are children, anyhow--mere children."

With an exclamation of delight, he resumed his position beside