Page:Stevenson - Prince Otto. A Romance.djvu/184

 constellations; the face sketched in shadows—a sketch, you might say, by passion. Otto became consoled for his defeat; he began to take an interest. ‘No,’ he said, ‘I am no ingrate.’

‘You promised me fun,’ she returned, with a laugh. ‘I have given you as good. We have had a stormy scena.’

He laughed in his turn, and the sound of the laughter, in either case, was hardly reassuring.

‘Come, what are you going to give me in exchange,’ she continued, ‘for my excellent declamation?’

‘What you will,’ he said.

‘Whatever I will? Upon your honour? Suppose I asked the crown?’ She was flashing upon him, beautiful in triumph.

‘Upon my honour,’ he replied.

‘Shall I ask the crown?’ she continued. ‘Nay; what should I do with it? Grünewald is but a petty state; my ambition swells above it. I shall ask—I find I want nothing,’ she concluded. ‘I will give you something instead. I will give you leave to kiss me—once.’

Otto drew near, and she put up her face; they were both smiling, both on the brink of laughter, all was so innocent and playful; and the Prince, when their lips encountered, was dumbfoundered by the sudden convulsion of his being. Both drew instantly apart, and for an