"There are many forms of love," smiled the King. "This is such love as a Prince and a Princess may most properly feel." "I do not call it love at all," said Osra with a pout. When Prince Ludwig came next day to see her and told her with grave courtesy that his pleasure lay in doing her will, she broke out: "I had rather it lay in watching my face," and then, ashamed, she turned away from him. He seemed grieved and hurt at her words; it was with a sigh that he said: "My life shall be spent in giving you joy." She turned round on him with flushed cheek and trembling lips: "Yes, but I had rather it were spent in getting joy from me." He cast down his eyes a moment, and then, taking her hand, kissed it. But she drew it away sharply. So that afternoon they parted, he back to his Palace, she to her chamber, where she sat, asking again: "Is this love?" and crying: "He does not know love," and pausing, now and again, before her mirror, to ask her pictured face why it would not unlock the door of love. On another day she would be merry, or feign merriment, rallying him on his sombre air and formal compliments, professing that for her part she soon grew weary of such wooing, and loved to be easy and merry; for thus she hoped to sting him, so that he would either disclose more warmth or altogether forsake his pursuit. But he offered many apologies, blaming nature that had made him grave, but assuring her of his deep affection and respect. "Affection and respect!" murmured Osra with a little toss of her head. "Oh, that I had not been born a Princess!" And yet, though she did not love him, she thought him a very noble gentleman, and trusted to his honour and sincerity in everything. Therefore, when he still persisted, and Rudolf and the Queen urged her, telling her (the King mockingly, the Queen with a touch of sadness) that she must not look to find in the world such love as romantic girls dreamt of, at last she yielded; she told her brother that she would marry Prince Ludwig; yet for a little while she would not have the news proclaimed. So Rudolf went, alone and privately, to the White Palace, and said to Ludwig: "Cousin, you have won the fairest lady in the world. Behold, her brother says it!" Prince Ludwig bowed low, and taking the King's hand, pressed it, thanking him for his help and approval, and expressing himself as most grateful for the boon of the Princess's favour. "Will you not come with me and find her?" cried the King with a merry look. "I have urgent business now," answered Ludwig. "Beg the Princess to forgive me. This afternoon I will crave the honour of waiting on her with my humble gratitude." King Rudolf looked at him, a smile curling on his lips; and he said, in one of his gusts of impatience: "By heaven! is there another man in the world who would talk about gratitude, and business, and the afternoon, when Osra of Strelsau sat waiting for him?"