Coronel didn't quite see the difficulty. If the King was in love with the Countess, he would marry her whatever Hyacinth did. And what was the good of putting her in her place for one day if her next place was to be on the throne. Hyacinth guessed what he was thinking. "Oh, don't you see," she cried, "she doesn't know that the King is coming back to-morrow. And if I can only just show her--I don't mind if it's only for an hour--that I am not afraid of her, and that she has got to take her orders from me, then I shan't mind so much all that has happened these last weeks. But if she is to have disregarded me all the time, if she is to have plotted against me from the very moment my father went away, and if nothing is to come to her for it but that she marries my father and becomes Queen of Euralia, then I can have no pride left, and I will be a Princess no longer." "I must see this Belvane," said Coronel thoughtfully. "Oh, Coronel, Coronel," cried Hyacinth, "if _you_ fall in love with her, too, I think I shall die of shame!" "With _her_, Hyacinth?" he said, turning to her in amazement. "Yes, you--I didn't--you never--I----" Her voice trailed away; she could not meet his gaze any longer; she dropped her eyes, and the next moment his arms were round her, and she knew that she would never be alone again. CHAPTER XIX UDO BEHAVES LIKE A GENTLEMAN "And now," said Coronel, "we'd better decide what to do." "But I don't mind what we do now," said Hyacinth happily. "She may have the throne and Father and Udo, and--and anything else she can get, and I shan't mind a bit. You see, I have got _you_ now, Coronel, and I can never be jealous of anybody again." "That's what makes it so jolly. We can do what we like, and it doesn't matter if it doesn't come off. So just for fun let's think of something to pay her out." "I feel I don't want to hurt anybody to-day." "All right, we won't hurt her, we'll humour her. We will be her most humble obedient servants. She shall have everything she wants." "Including Prince Udo," smiled Hyacinth. "That's a splendid idea. We'll make her have Udo. It will annoy your father, but one can't please everybody. Oh, I can see myself enjoying this." They got up and wandered back along Wiggs's path, hand in hand. "I'm almost afraid to leave the forest," said Hyacinth, "in case something happens." "What should happen?" "I don't know; but all our life together has been in the forest, and I'm just a little afraid of the world." "I will be very close to you always, Hyacinth." "Be very close, Coronel," she whispered, and then they walked out together. If any of the servants at the Palace were surprised to see Coronel, they did not show it. After all, that was their business.