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 grant my wish, Maria Felicia? And if you do, will it be only from the loyalty of a vassal?”

The longer the Emperor spoke the warmer became his words, and the warmer the more quiet. The last word escaped his lips in a whisper; the Countess guessed rather than heard it.

“I have decided to fulfill father’s promise as soon as I lay mourning aside,” calmly she answered, lifting her eyes to the Emperor. “Your gracious invitation to the court I accept.”

“You will come, then, really will come? Will you at last subdue your dislike for court life?” the Emperor exclaimed, with youthful joy. “Come, come soon; there is a task waiting for you already. Since I learned the relation of the peasants to their masters, I have been thinking about making a law to lighten the tenure service. You supplied the first motive to this undertaking; it has ripened through your influence; and with your assistance I will put it in force. I cannot see what