صفحة 283 من 1118

"Softly, softly," said the prince, "let her decide; perhaps she

does not feel disposed to go to-day, and would rather wait until

to-morrow. Say, do you wish to go to-day or to-morrow?"

"To-morrow," said Gertrude, in a feeble voice, glad of a short

reprieve.

"To-morrow," said the prince, solemnly; "she has decided to go

to-morrow. Meanwhile I will see the vicar of the nuns, to have

him to appoint a day for the examination." He did so, and the

vicar named the day after the next. In the interval Gertrude was

not left a moment to herself. She would have desired some repose

for her mind after so many contending emotions; to have reflected

on the step she had already taken, and what remained to be

done-but the machine once in motion at her direction, it was no

longer in her power to arrest its progress; occupations succeeded

each other without interruption. The princess herself assisted at

her toilette, which was completed by her own maid. This effected,

dinner was announced, and poor Gertrude was made to pass through

the crowd of servants, who nodded their congratulations to each

other. She found at the table a few relations of the family, who

had been invited in haste to participate in the general joy.