ey were very close together,
and his head was bent until it almost touched hers. As they drew nearer,
the dreamy watchers on the balcony recognized them.

"They are very happy," said Lorry, knowing that she was also watching
the strollers.

"They are so sure of each other," she replied, sadly.

When almost directly beneath the rail, the Countess glanced upward,
impelled by the strange instinct of an easily startled love, confident
that prying eyes were upon her. She saw the dark forms leaning over the
rail and rather jerkily brought her companion to a standstill and to a
realization of his position. Anguish turned his eyes aloft.

"Can you, fair maid, tell me the names of those beautiful stars I see in
the dark dome above?" he asked, in a loud, happy voice. "Oh, can they be
eyes?"

"Eyes, most noble sir," replied his companion. "There are no stars so
bright."

"Methought they were diamonds in the sky at first. Eyes like those must
belong to some divinity."

"They do, fair student, and to a divinity well worth worshiping. I have
heard it said that men offer themselves as sacrifices upon her altars."

"Unless my telescope deceives me, I discern a very handsome sacrifice up
there, so I suppose the altar must be somewhere in the neighborhood."

"Not a hand's breadth beneath her eyes," laughed the Countess, as she
fled precipitately up the steps, followed by the jesting student.

"Beware of a divinity in wrath," came a sweet, clear voice from the
balcony, and Anguish called out from his safe retreat, like the boy he
was:

"Ah, who's afraid!"

The Princess was laughing softly, her eyes radiant as they met those of
her companion, amused yet grave.

"Does he have a care?" she asked.

"I fear not. He loves a Countess."

"He has not to pay the price of ambition, then?" said she, softly.

"Ambition is the cheapest article in the world," he said. "It concerns
only a man's self."

XXVIII. THE MAID OF GRAUSTARK

Expectancy, concern, the dread of uncertainty marked the countenances
of Graustark's ministers and her chief men as they sat in the council
chamber on the day following, awaiting the appearance of their Princess,
at whose call they were unexpectedly assembled. More than two score eyes
glanced nervously toward the door from time to time.

All realized an emergency. No sooner were they out of one dilemma than
another cast its prospects across their path, creating the fear that
rejoicing would be