constitution coming to the rescue bravely. He saw much of the
Princess, more of the Countess Dagmar, and made the acquaintance
of many lords and ladies for whom he cared but little except when
they chose to talk of their girlish ruler. The atmosphere of the
castle was laden with a depression that could not be overcome by
an assimilated gaiety. There was the presence of a shadow that
grew darker and nearer as the days went by, and there were
anxious hearts under the brave, proud spirits of those who held
the destiny of Graustark in their hands.

The princess could not bide the trouble that had sprung up in her
eyes. Her laugh, her gay conversation, her rare composure and
gentle hauteur were powerless to drive away the haunted, worried
gleam in those expressive eyes of blue. Lorry had it on his
tongue's end a dozen times during the next day or so after the
count's narrative to question her about the condition of affairs
as they appeared to her. He wondered whether she, little more
than a girl, could see and understand the enormity of the
situation that confronted her and her people. A strange, tender
fear prevented him from speaking to her of the thing which was
oppressing her life. Not that he expected a rebuff from her, but
that he could not endure the thought of hearing her brave, calm
recital of the merciless story. He knew that she could narrate
it all to him more plainly than had her uncle. Something told
him that she was fully aware of the real and underlying
conditions. He could see, in his imagination, the proud,
resigned face and manner of this perplexed Princess, as she would
have talked to him of her woes, and he could also picture the
telltale eyes and the troubled expression that would not be
disguised.