s some one at the door
now."

Baroness von Lyndal stood aghast on hearing that she was to be
deserted early in the morning by the bright, particular star of her
house party--after the Emperor. She begged that Lady Mowbray would
reconsider; that she would wire to England, instead of going, or at
all events that she would wait for one day more, until Leopold's visit
to Schloss Lyndalberg should be over.

In her anxiety, she even failed in tact, when she found arguments
useless. "But the Emperor?" she objected. "If you go off early in the
morning, before he or any one comes down, what will he think, what
will he say at being cheated out of his _au revoir_?"

The Grand Duchess hesitated; but Virginia answered firmly "I said
good-by to him to-night. The Emperor--will understand."

CHAPTER XIII

THE MAGIC CITRON

Breakfast at Schloss Lyndalberg was an informal meal, under the reign
of Mechtilde. Those who were sociably inclined, appeared. Those who
loved not their species until the day was older, ate in their rooms.

Leopold had shown himself at the table each morning, however, and set
the fashion. And the day after the parting in the garden, he was
earlier even than usual. It was easy to be early, as he had not been
to bed that night; but he had an extra incentive. He could scarcely
wait to see how Helen Mowbray would meet him; whether she would still
be cold, or whether sound advice from her mother would have made her
kind.

This was his last day at Lyndalberg. By his special request no program
of entertainment had been arranged; and before coming down to
breakfast Leopold had been turning over in his mind plan after plan
for another chance of meeting the girl alone. He had even written a
letter, but had torn it up, because he was unable to say on paper what
was really in his heart.

Breakfast passed, however, and when she did not appear, Leopold grew
restless. He did not ask for her before the others; but when he and
the Baroness had strolled out together on the terrace, where white
peacocks spread their jeweled tails, the Emperor sought some
opportunity of bringing in the name that filled his thoughts.

"I see the red October lilies are opening," he said. "Miss Mowbray
will be interested. She tells me there's nothing like them in
England."

"Ah, she has gone just too soon!" sighed the Baroness.

The Emperor glanced quickly from the mass of crimson flowers, to his
hostess's face. "Gone?" he repeate