_Vera._ I shall love you always for saving my Vasil. It would have killed him. Adrian has guarded him always. [_Lifting Vasil's hand_] See---- _Vasil._ [_Offended, drawing away his hand_] I am not a child, Vera. _Vera._ [_Hurt_] O, Vasil! _Vasil._ [_Embracing her_] There! The princess will think we are _two_ babies. _Vera._ [_With dignity_] I am betrothed. _Soph._ Happy Alexander! _Vasil._ [_Jealously, as she caresses Vera_] Princess, may I play to you before you go? _Soph._ O, will you? _Vera._ Sit here, princess. [_Sophie takes the large chair, Vera sits on stool beside her. Vasil gets his violin from table, comes over and stands ready to play. Drops the bow in desperation_] _Soph._ What is the matter? _Vasil._ How can I play to that ugly coat and hat? _Soph._ [_Laughing and removing hat and ulster_] Is that all? _Vasil._ Now you are my princess! _Soph._ Yours? _Vasil._ Yes. You have sold yourself to me. _Soph._ I have? _Vasil._ By doing me a favor--the most binding of bargains. As long as you live your thoughts will come back to me. Could you forget me, princess? _Soph._ No, Vasil. But you must not care so much. _Vasil._ Don't you like me to care? _Soph._ Yes, but---- _Vasil._ Then I will. O, it is glorious to dream and know why! To sing and know to whom the song belongs! _Soph._ My boy, make your country your goddess, not a woman. _Vasil._ My country! What is it? The thing that raised a knout above my shoulders? _Soph._ My dear Vasil---- _Vasil._ Adrian is right. I must find that which is not country, nor home, nor people,--the eternal in the hour. _Soph._ But Adrian cares for country, home, people. _Vasil._ No. He cares only for the soul. These other things are shadow boundaries in the mind that vanish when the soul looks on them. Here, I'll show you how little he cares. [_Unfastens a chain from his neck and draws a medal from his bosom_] He gave me this, because I wanted it to play with. I was only a boy then. And he forgot all about it. Have you noticed how Adrian forgets? I would not give it back because he was going to bury it. [_Holding out medal_] See? [_Drawing it back_] You love him, don't you? _Soph._ Why--yes--you strange boy. _Vasil._ Then you may see it. _Soph._ [_Turning away_] No. _Vasil._ But I want you to look. The name is on it--his grandfather's--great-grandfather's--O, I don't know how far back. But I am sure he was a great prince. _Soph._ [_Looking at medal_] Donskoi! _Vasil._ Wasn't he a great prince? _Soph._ Yes. But a greater man. _Vasil._ And Adrian could be a prince too. [_Re-fastening chain_] But he doesn't care at all. When I asked him if this was a piece of the sun, he said "No, the last of a great shadow." I know what he meant now. Why are you sad, princess? _Soph._ Because I have been unkind to Adrian. _Vasil._ Don't mind. He will forgive you. He forgives everybody everything.