e Councillors stood up. There was a
burst of enthusiasm, and the handjars flashed. For an instant he stood
silent, with lifted hand, as though indicating that he wished to speak.
So soon as this was recognized, silence fell on the assembly, and he
spoke:

"I pray you, may the Voivodin Teuta of Vissarion, who has accompanied me
hither, appear with me to hear your wishes?" There was an immediate and
enthusiastic acquiescence, and, after bowing his thanks, he retired to
conduct her.

Her appearance was received with an ovation similar to that given to
Gospodar Rupert, to which she bowed with dignified sweetness. She, with
her husband, was conducted to the top of the Hall by the President, who
came down to escort them. In the meantime another chair had been placed
beside that prepared for the Gospodar, and these two sat.

The President then made the formal statement conveying to the "Gospodar
Rupert" the wishes of the Council, on behalf of the nation, to offer to
him the Crown and Kingship of the Land of the Blue Mountains. The
message was couched in almost the same words as had been used the
previous day in making the offer to the Voivode Peter Vissarion, only
differing to meet the special circumstances. The Gospodar Rupert
listened in grave silence. The whole thing was manifestly quite new to
him, but he preserved a self-control wonderful under the circumstances.
When, having been made aware of the previous offer to the Voivode and the
declared wish of the latter, he rose to speak, there was stillness in the
Hall. He commenced with a few broken words of thanks; then he grew
suddenly and strangely calm as he went on:

"But before I can even attempt to make a fitting reply, I should know if
it is contemplated to join with me in this great honour my dear wife the
Voivodin Teuta of Vissarion, who has so splendidly proved her worthiness
to hold any place in the government of the Land. I fain would . . . "

He was interrupted by the Voivodin, who, standing up beside him and
holding his left arm, said:

"Do not, President, and Lords all, think me wanting in that respect of a
wife for husband which in the Blue Mountains we hold so dear, if I
venture to interrupt my lord. I am here, not merely as a wife, but as
Voivodin of Vissarion, and by the memory of all the noble women of that
noble line I feel constrained to a great duty. We women of Vissarion, in
all the history of centuries, have never put ourselves forwa