“I know something--not much;” replied the Professor guardedly; “But come, my friend, _I_ have not deceived you! I was in very truth a poor ‘German schoolmaster,’ once,--before I became a student of medicine and surgery. And that I am the King’s physician, is merely one of those accidental circumstances which occur in a world of chance. But schoolmaster as I have been, I doubt if I would set our ‘Glory-of-the-Sea’ to study books recommended to her by Sergius Thord. The poetry of Heine is more suitable to her age and sex. Let us break in upon her meditations.” And he walked across the grass with one arm thrust through that of Ronsard; “For she must prepare herself. We ought to be gone within an hour.” They passed under the low, rose-covered porch into a wide square room, with raftered ceiling and deep carved oak ingle nook,--and here at the table, with a quarto volume opened out before her, sat Gloria, resting her head on one fair hand, her rich hair falling about her in loose shining tresses, and her whole attitude expressive of the deepest absorption in study. As they entered, she looked up and smiled,--then rose, her hand still resting on the open book. “At last you have come again, dear Professor!” she said; “I began to think you had grown weary in well-doing!” Von Glauben stared at her, stricken speechless for a moment. What mysterious change had passed over the girl, investing her with such an air of regal authority? It was impossible to say. To all appearance she was the same beautiful creature, clad in the same simple white homespun gown,--yet were she Empress of half the habitable globe, she could not have looked more environed with dignity, sweetness and delicately gracious manner. He understood the desolating expression of Ronsard,--‘You see I have lost her!--she is not mine any more--she is his!’ He recognised and was suddenly impressed by that fact;--she was ‘his’--the wife of the Crown Prince and Heir-Apparent to the Throne;--and evidently with the knowledge of her position had arisen the pride of love and the spirit of grace to support her honours worthily. And so, as Von Glauben met her eyes, which expressed their gentle wonder at his silence, and as she extended her hand to him, he came slowly forward and bowing low, respectfully kissed that hand. “Princess,” he said, in a voice that trembled ever so slightly; “I shall never be weary in well-doing,--if you are good enough to call my service and friendship for you by that name! I hesitated to come before,--because I thought--I feared--I did not know!--” “I understand!” said Gloria tranquilly; “You did not think the Prince, my husband, would tell me the truth so soon! But I know all, and now--I am glad to know it! Dearest,” and she moved swiftly to Ronsard who was standing silent in the doorway--“come in and sit down! You make yourself so tired sometimes in the garden;” and she threw a loving arm about him. “You must rest; you look so pale!”