“I thought it would be such a nice surprise. I never imagined he might be angry, somehow. Please scold me, Nym. Then perhaps I shall not be so frightened.” “I don’t think there’s much need for me to scold you,” said Usk gravely, rising to look down the path which led to the Lauterbach plateau from the lower world. He and Helene were sitting on the roof of the Moorish kiosk which was one of the less bizarre erections scattered about the gardens, and commanded one of the widest views. “There are people coming up, Lenchen, and one of them looks like----” “Not cousin Sigismund himself? Oh, Nym!” She was white and trembling, and her hands gripped his arm convulsively. “Can’t we escape?” “Where to? Why, Nell, what is there to be afraid of? He can’t eat you.” “But if he should want to send you away? He shan’t, he shan’t! If he does, I will go too. You won’t give me up, Nym?” “You silly child! I shan’t be asked. They’ll want you to give me up.” “Then we are quite safe, for I won’t.” “He’s looking this way; he’s seen you, Nell. Wave your hand and don’t be frightened. We’ve done nothing to be ashamed of.” “Of course not. I’m not ashamed. Oh, Nym, he is telling the rest to ride on. He is dismounting and coming up here. What shall we do? Let us go down--quick!” “Remember that you’ll have to ask if you may present me,” said Usk hurriedly as he followed her down the outside stair. At the foot he waited, expecting Helene to go forward alone to greet the soldierly man in hunting costume and Tyrolese hat who had just mounted the knoll on which the summer-house stood, but she caught his arm and dragged him forward with her. “Oh, cousin Sigismund, please--this is Usk!” A more informal presentation there could not have been, and the Emperor, finding his hand forced, looked almost embarrassed and decidedly annoyed. He acknowledged Usk’s presence coldly, greeted Helene with paternal kindness, and sat down on the piazza of the summer-house, motioning her to a seat beside him; but she preferred to stand, still gripping Usk’s arm as though to hold him fast. “I don’t think your friend will run away, Lenchen,” said the Emperor, with an involuntary smile, as he glanced at the two culprits before him; and Helene laughed nervously as she released Usk’s arm, still retaining her hold of his hand, however. Her eyes sought her cousin’s face anxiously. “I suppose you know you are a very fortunate young man?” said the Emperor abruptly to Usk; and both hearers felt that it was not at all what he had intended to say. “Most fortunate, sir.” Usk squeezed Helene’s hand reassuringly. “Have you any explanation to offer of your pres----” Usk felt that Helene darted a look of angry reproach at the questioner--“of the ambition which has led you to seek an alliance with the house of Schwarzwald-Molzau?” “I can’t say it was exactly ambition, sir. I--I love the Princess----” “I love him,” interrupted Helene calmly.