The Prince smiled indulgently; his only thought was for her, and so long as he could dry her tears, Ronsard’s rage or pleasure was nothing to him. “He would kill you!” repeated Gloria, with wide open tear-wet eyes; “He hates all kings, in his heart!--and if he knew that you--_you_--my husband,--were what you say you are;--if he thought you had married me under a disguise, only to leave me and never to want me any more----” “Gloria, Gloria!” cried the Prince, in despair; “Why will you say such things! Never to want you any more! I want you all my life, and every moment of that life! Gloria, you must listen to me--you must not turn from me at the very time I need you most! Are you not brave? Are you not true? Do you not love me?” With a pathetic gesture she stretched out her hands to him. “Oh, yes, I love you!” she said; “I love you with all my heart! But you have deceived me!--my dearest, you have deceived me! And if you had only told me the truth, I would never,--for your own sake,--have married you!” “I know that!” said the Prince; “And that is why I determined to win you under the mask of poverty! Now listen, my Princess and my Queen!--for you are both! I want all your help--all your love--all your trust! Do not be afraid of Ronsard; he will, he can do nothing to harm me! You are my wife, Gloria,--you have promised before God to obey me! I claim your obedience!” She stood silent, looking at him,--pale and fair as an ivory statue of Psyche, seen against the dark background of the heavily-branched trees. Her mind was stunned and confused; she had not yet grasped the full consciousness of her position,--but as he spoke, the old primitive lessons of faith, steadfastness of purpose, and unwavering love and trust in God, which her adopted father had instilled into her from childhood, rose and asserted their sway over her startled, but unspoilt soul. “You need not claim it!” she said, slowly; “It is yours always! I shall do whatever you tell me, even if you command me to die for your sake!” With a swift impulsive action, full of grace and spirit, he dropped on one knee and kissed her hand. “And so I pledge my faith to my Queen!” he said joyously. “Gloria! my ‘Glory-of-the-Sea’!--you will forgive me for having in this one thing misled you? Think of me as your sailor lover still!--it is a much harder thing to be a king’s son than a simple, independent seafarer! Pity me for my position, and help me to make it endurable! Come now with me down to that rocky nook on the shore where I first saw you,--and I will tell you exactly how everything stands,--and how I trust to your love for me and your courage, to clear away all the difficulties before us. You do not love me less?” “I could not love you less!” she replied slowly; “but I cannot think of you as quite the same!” A shadow of pain darkened his face. “Gloria,” he said sadly; “If your love was as great as mine you would forgive!”