"Your highness!" he exclaimed gently, joyously. "What are you doing out

there?"

"Wondering, Baldos--wondering what you were thinking of as you stood

under the lamp over there."

"I was thinking of your highness," he called up, softly.

"No, no!" she protested.

"I, too, was wondering--wondering what you were dreaming of as you

slept, for you should be asleep at this hour, your highness, instead of

standing out there in the rain."

"Baldos," she called down tremulously, "you don't like this work, do

you?"

"It has nothing but darkness in it for me. I never see the light of your

eyes. I never feel the--"

"Sh! You must not talk like that. It's not proper, and besides someone

may be listening. The night has a thousand ears--or is it eyes? But

listen: to-morrow you shall be restored to your old duties. You surely

cannot believe that I had anything to do with the order which compels

you to work at this unholy hour."

"I was afraid you were punishing me for my boldness. My heart has been

sore--you never can know how sore. I was disgraced, dismissed,

forgotten--"

"No, no--you were not! You must not say that. Go away now,

Baldos. You will ride with me to-morrow," she cried nervously. "Please

go to some place where you won't get dripping wet."

"You forget that I am on guard," he said with a laugh. "But you are a

wise counsellor. Is the rain so pleasant to you?"

"I have an umbrella," she protested. "What are you doing?" she cried in

alarm. He was coming hand over hand, up the trellis-work that enclosed

the lower verandah.

"I am coming to a place where I won't get dripping wet," he called

softly. There was a dangerous ring in his voice and she drew back in a

panic.

"You must not!" she cried desperately. "This is madness! Go down, sir!"

"I am happy enough to fly, but cannot. So I do the next best thing--I

climb to you." His arm was across the stone railing by this time and he

was panting from the exertion, not two feet from where she

crouched. "Just one minute of heaven before I go back to the shadow of

earth. I am happy again. Marlanx told me you had dismissed me. I wonder

what he holds in reserve for me. I knew he lied, but it is not until now

that I rejoice. Come, you are to shield me from the rain."




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