“I don’t want to palliate it, but--had he any reason to think you would listen patiently if he spoke to you first? Was there such confidence between you that his jealousy was palpably unreasonable?” “I don’t know what you mean,” said Félicia, sitting up in her chair, her eyes flashing. “If you are trying to shift the blame on to me----” “I am not, believe me. All I mean is that you and Michael together had treated Usk very cruelly. Had Michael any guarantee that you would not treat him in the same way if you could?” “I don’t know,” with a superb gesture of disdain. “I just expect to be trusted without any question of guarantees. Your son has had to learn that, and I guess the world will know it too before long.” “But, Félicia, you must make allowances for Michael. I don’t defend his action, but will you not forgive it? I believe he really loves you, and I think he must have had some idea of satisfying his mind without entering on a disagreeable subject with you.” “But he broke open my bureau to read my letters,” Félicia persisted. “I know--but he has been punished for it. And he is anxious for your forgiveness, and has done all he could to shield your name.” “Oh, that’s the Baroness’s doing,” said Félicia lazily. “You make it very hard for me to plead for him. Surely, Félicia, you must have a little kindness left for him--the man you promised to love and honour?” “I thought it was generally understood that those promises were made because one couldn’t get married without them,” said Félicia. “How has he kept his?” “You must have some slight feeling for him, or you could not be so bitter. See, Félicia, I am his mother, and for his sake I lay aside my pride, and entreat you to forgive him. It is well that he should know how a woman regards such an insult as he offered you; but what will be the effect on him if his penitence brings him no pardon? You have a great opportunity before you now. He admires you, loves you, feels that he has misjudged you shamefully. If you return to him, you may exert such an influence over him as may change his whole character. I don’t mean that he will ever be a husband on whose strength you can lean, but if you choose to--to fascinate him, as you can fascinate any man if you will, you may be of the greatest service both to him and the kingdom----” “Yes; it’s all right for Michael and the kingdom, but where do I come in?” cried Félicia shrilly. “I want to have a good time.” “I think that is what you have always aimed at,” suggested Queen Ernestine, with unintentional irony, “and it has never yet----” “Materialised,” supplied Félicia. “That is so, but I don’t expect now to find it in a little no-account State way back in the Balkans.”