"I'm appalled when I think of the dangers you incurred in coming to

me. No one but a very foolish American girl could have undertaken such a

trip as this. Dear me, Beverly, I should have died if anything dreadful

had happened to you. Why did you do it?" questioned the princess. And

then they laughed joyously.

"And you went all the way to St. Petersburg to meet me, you dear, dear

Yetive," cried Beverly, so warmly that the attentive servant forgot his

mask of reverence.

"Wasn't it ridiculous of me? I know Gren would have forbidden it if he

had been in Edelweiss when I started. And, more shame to me, the poor

fellow is doubtless at the conference with Dawsbergen, utterly ignorant

of my escapade. You should have heard the ministry--er--ah--"and the

princess paused for an English word.

"Kick?" Beverly supplied.

"Yes. They objected violently. And, do you know, I was finally compelled

to issue a private edict to restrain them from sending an appeal to

Grenfall away off there on the frontier. Whether or no, my uncle

insisted that he should be brought home, a three-days' journey, in order

that he might keep me from going to St. Petersburg. Of course, they

could not disobey my edict, and so poor Gren is none the wiser, unless

he has returned from the conference. If he has, I am sure he is on the

way to Ganlook at this very minute."

"What a whimsical ruler you are," cried Beverly. "Upsetting everything

sensible just to rush off hundreds of miles to meet me. And Axphain is

trying to capture you, too! Goodness, you must love me!"

"Oh, but I did have a trifling affair of state to lay before the

Czar, my dear. To-morrow we shall be safe and sound in the castle and it

will all be very much worth while. You see, Beverly, dear, even

princesses enjoy a diversion now and then. One wouldn't think anything

of this adventure in the United States; it is the environment that makes

it noticeable. Besides, you traveled as a princess. How did you like

it?"

And then the conversation related particularly to the advantages of

royalty as viewed from one side and the disadvantages as regarded from

another. For a long time Beverly had been wondering how she should

proceed in the effort to secure absolute clemency for Baldos. As yet she

had said nothing to Yetive of her promise to him, made while she was a

princess.

"At any rate, I'm sure the goat-hunters would not have been so faithful

and true if they had not believed me to be a princess," said Beverly,

paving the way." You haven't a man in your kingdom who could be more

chivalrous than Baldos."

"If he is that kind of a man, he would treat any woman as gently."




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