Pagina 661 de 3800

Princess Mary was left alone. She did not comply with Lise's

request, she not only left her hair as it was, but did not even

look in her glass. Letting her arms fall helplessly, she sat with

downcast eyes and pondered. A husband, a man, a strong dominant

and strangely attractive being rose in her imagination, and

carried her into a totally different happy world of his own. She

fancied a child, her own-such as she had seen the day before in

the arms of her nurse's daughter-at her own breast, the husband

standing by and gazing tenderly at her and the child. "But no, it

is impossible, I am too ugly," she thought.

"Please come to tea. The prince will be out in a moment," came

the maid's voice at the door.