Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/438

448 —because then, then I will come to see her yet once more.——And now, my thanks and my blessings for your friendship! Keep in remembrance what you have promised me, and—farewell!”

He embraced and kissed me, and I felt his tears upon my face. I too wept like a child, and could Scarcely speak. I still detained him, and said in my emotion, “Promise me, not to leave Sicily till you have had one letter from me!” But he made no reply, hastily pressed my hand, and hurried away.

They had lighted the gas-lamps in the music salle, and I saw the Princess Elsa standing there, surrounded by a little group of courtiers, with whom she was gayly talking, with beaming glances. Amongst these was the Prince of Villa Ambrosa. It cut me to the heart. I felt excited against her, and, without speaking a word to her, I went into my own room; pretending to be asleep when, later in the evening, she came to bid me good-night, and had myself a sleepless night.

The next morning she met me with uneasy, questioning glances. I asked her to come to my room, and there I told her that Waldo was gone, and that she was free! She turned pale, trembled, seated herself, and grew ever paler and paler.

“Are you not glad,” I asked, “to be liberated from an engagement which seemed to have become irksome to you?”

“I had no idea of breaking it,” she returned, “I have merely been a little out of sorts, these few days—I have been in a strange state of mind—very