“Yes--you can go away,” she returned, fiercely, without looking up, but the tears were forcing themselves through her fingers, and she began to sob in a hopeless way that went to Caerleon’s heart. He stood looking at her, without an idea what to do, until she rose suddenly. “If you will not go away, I must,” she said in her most dogged tone, dashing away her tears, but for once Caerleon saw his opportunity and grasped it. “No, you will not,” he said, barring her path. “We must have an explanation, Nadia. I want to know what you mean by treating me in this way?” “In what way?” It was evident that this carrying of the war into her own territories took Nadia by surprise. “Why, the way you have behaved to me ever since we came on board,--rating me all day long, and treating me as if I was the dust under your feet.” “It has not done you much harm. I wish it had,” and her grey eyes flashed stormily. “How do you know whether it has or not? Do you think I am going to beg for mercy from a girl who doesn’t mind what she says to me, and rather likes to make me a public spectacle, because she knows that I care for her too much to say anything in return? No; the fact is, Nadia,” he stopped her indignant denial, “that you have been taking a mean advantage of me. You treat me like a dog because you know that I love you, and would rather have you scolding me all day than be King of Thracia.” “At least avoid that subject,” said Nadia, with a sudden shiver. “But no, as you say, it may be better to come to an explanation. How can you expect me to have anything to do with you when I know that you gave up your work like a coward that you might be able to marry me?” “I promise you I didn’t,” cried Caerleon. “You almost told me so. At any rate, you did not deny it.” “I didn’t know that you expected me to state everything in plain English, but I will. You know how I hated Bellaviste; but still, if King Otto Georg had not been elected and crowned in my place, or if it had been possible for the Powers to object to him more strongly than they did to me, I would have gone back, and stayed there until I was kicked out again. But as I said to you a month ago, I was not going to risk causing another revolution and a European war, even for your sake. That is my position exactly, and I have told you all about it already. It’s very hard, to be sure, that one’s motives are altogether pure; but I honestly believe that I did not allow the thought of marrying you to weigh with me in making my decision. You must trust me a little, Nadia.” “But you said--you said that I was making your choice an easy one, when I said I wouldn’t marry you if you went back. If you thought I would marry you in case you gave up the kingdom for my sake, you were mistaken. What have you to say now?”