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98s WILD. MARGARET. “
prince, who seemed tired, went straight to his sister's
~ room. .
‘Oh, is it you, Ferdy?’ she said; ‘‘ you have just come
in time to coil up this plait for me. . My maid has run off
to Miss Leslie’s room; she is always so anxious to desert.
me for her. They are all alike—the servants, I mean; I
_ think they worship her!” anl she Jaughed with a poor
imitation of a pout. . .
The prince gathered up a plait of the shining hair, and
. kissed it with brotherly affection as he attempted to ar-
range it.
_ her to-day—has she been down?”
‘* They all love her,.do they?” he said; ‘‘and you, too, .
-Plorrie, eh?’
‘‘And you, too, Ferdy, eh?’ she retorted, glancing : .
round at him wickedly.
He did not flush, but met her gaze steadily. —
‘* And I. too, Florence,’’ he said, gravely.
‘‘Oh, Ferdy,” she exclaimed, clasping her hands, ‘I
am so glad!—I am so happy! I thought it was so, but I
only thought. And—oh, I don’t know what to say—and
when are you going to tell her?’ she demanded impetu-
ously.
‘“‘T have told her,”’ he said, quietly.
‘‘And—oh?’ for she read the result in hiseyes.
‘*Never mind,’ he said, gently; ‘‘all is not lost yet.
But do not speak of it—least of all to her. Have you seen
‘*T have seen her, but she has not been down, She has
kept her own apartments, and has been working; and yet
only a very little, I think. Oh, Ferdy, it can’t be because.
she doesn’t love you; that’s impossible.” » De
_ Thank you,” he said, forcing a smile. ‘‘ You will
thrive at court, Florrie.’’ a Te
‘But it can’t be! There must be something else—some- .
_body else!’ Lo
_His face grew pale and his lips contracted, and he opened |
his lips as if to speak, but he remained silent for a mo-_
ment, then said: ~
** I must dress, or I shall be late,’’ and left the room. »
On his way he passed the door of Margaret's painting:
‘room, and as he did so the princess’ maid came out. She
_ started and stepped back witha courtesy, leaving the door
open, Margaret came to the door to say something to, the
_ Inaid, and seeing the prince, stopped short.
For a moment they looked at each other without saying
anything; then he bowed and drew a little nearer, and as
of respect and reverence:
the servant sped noiselessly away, said in alow voice, full
‘‘ Miss Leslie, will you forget what I said last night? No,
“oy