"It sounds very funny for you to say those things," admitted Beverly,

"even though they come secondhand. You were not cut out for slang."

"Why, I'm sure they are all good English words," remonstrated

Yetive. "Oh, dear, I wonder what they are doing in Graustark this very

instant. Are they fighting or--"

"No; they are merely talking. Don't you know, dear, that there is never

a fight until both sides have talked themselves out of breath? We shall

have six months of talk and a week or two of fight, just as they always

do nowadays."

"Oh, you Americans have such a comfortable way of looking at things,"

cried the princess. "Don't you ever see the serious side of life?"

"My dear, the American always lets the other fellow see the serious side

of life," said Beverly.

"You wouldn't be so optimistic if a country much bigger and more

powerful than America happened to be the other fellow."

"It did sound frightfully boastful, didn't it? It's the way we've been

brought up, I reckon,--even we southerners who know what it is to be

whipped. The idea of a girl like me talking about war and trouble and

all that! It's absurd, isn't it?"

"Nevertheless, I wish I could see things through those dear gray eyes of

yours. Oh, how I'd like to have you with me through all the months that

are to come. You would be such a help to me--such a joy. Nothing would

seem so hard if you were there to make me see things through your brave

American eyes." The princess put her arms about Beverly's neck and drew

her close.

"But Mr. Lorry possesses an excellent pair of American eyes," protested

Miss Beverly, loyally and very happily.

"I know, dear, but they are a man's eyes. Somehow, there is a

difference, you know. I wouldn't dare cry when he was looking, but I

could boo-hoo all day if you were there to comfort me. He thinks I am

very brave--and I'm not," she confessed, dismally.

"Oh, I'm an awful coward," explained Beverly, consolingly. "I think you

are the bravest girl in all the world," she added. "Don't you remember

what you did at--" and then she recalled the stories that had come from

Graustark ahead of the bridal party two years before. Yetive was finally

obliged to place her hand on the enthusiastic visitor's lips.

"Peace," she cried, blushing. "You make me feel like a--a--what is it you

call her--a dime-novel heroine?"

"A yellow-back girl? Never!" exclaimed Beverly, severely.

Visitors of importance in administration circles came at this moment and

the princess could not refuse to see them. Beverly Calhoun reluctantly

departed, but not until after giving a promise to accompany the Lorrys

to the railway station.

* * * * * The trunks had gone to be checked, and the household was quieter than it

had been in many days. There was an air of depression about the place

that had its inception in the room upstairs where sober-faced Halkins

served dinner for a not over-talkative young couple.




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