A famous professional soprano appeared in a white-ribboned enclosure at the end of the salon, and the guests were rapidly arranged according to their rank to listen. Clara and Jean stood until every man and woman were comfortably seated, when they were placed in the back row.
When the music was over supper was announced, and the same ceremony was observed. The Highnessess, the hochwohlgeboren privy councillors, the hochgeboren secretaries, even the untitled Herren who held some petty office, were ushered with profound deference to their seats at the long table, while Clara stood waiting.
Jean's eyes still drooped meekly, but even her lips were pale.
"How can you look so placid?" she whispered. "It is a deliberate insult to your gray hairs.""No. It is the custom of the country. It does not hurt me."They were led at the moment to the lowest seats. Jean shot one vindictive glance around the table.
"You have more wit and breeding than any of them!" she said. "And as for me, this lace I wear would buy any of their rickety old palaces.""They have something which we cannot buy," said Miss Vance gravely. "I never understood before how actual a thing rank is here.""Cannot it be bought? I am going to look into that when this huge feed is over," Miss Hassard said to herself.
Late in the evening she danced with Count Odo, and prattled to him in a childish, frank fashion which he found very charming.
"Your rules of precedence are very disagreeable!" she pouted. "Especially when one sits at the foot of the table and is served last.""They must seem queer to you," he said, laughing, "but they are inflexible as iron.""But they will bend for Miss Dunbar, if she makes up her mind to marry your cousin?"she asked, looking up into his face like an innocent child.
"No. Hugo makes a serious sacrifice in marrying a woman of no birth," he said. "He must give up his place and title as head of the family. She will not be received at court nor in certain houses; she must always remain out-side of much of his social life."
He led her back to Miss Vance. She seemed to be struck dumb, and even forgot to smile when he bowed low and thanked her for the dance.
"Let us go home," she whispered to Clara. "The American girl is a fool who marries one of these men!"When Miss Vance's carriage reached her hotel, she found Prince Hugo's coupe before the door.
"He has come to see Lucy, alone!" she said indignantly, as she hurried up the steps. "He has no right to annoy her!"She met him coming out of the long salle. The little man walked nervously, fingering his sword hilt. He could not control his voice when he tried to speak naturally.
"Yes, gracious lady, I am guilty. It was unpardonable to come when I knew the chaperone was gone.
But--ach! I could not wait!" throwing out both hands to her. "I have waited so long! I knew when she did not come to meet my sisters to-night she had resolved against me, but I could not sleep uncertain. So I break all the laws, and come!""You have seen her, then? She has told you?"He nodded without speaking. His round face was red, and something like tears stood in his eyes.
He waited irresolute a moment, and then threw up his head.
"Soh! It is over! I shall not whine! You have been very good to me," he said earnestly, taking Clara's hand.
"This is the first great trouble in my life. I have loved her very dearly. I decided to make great sacrifices for her. But I am not to have her--never.""I am so sorry for you, prince." Clara squeezed his hand energetically.
"Nor her dot. That would have been so comfortable for me," he said simply.
Clara hid a smile, and bade him an affectionate good-night.
As he passed into the outer salle a childish figure in creamy lace rose before him, and a soft hand was held out. "I know what has happened!" she whispered passionately. "She has treated you scandalously! She cannot appreciate YOU!"Prince Hugo stuttered and coughed and almost kissed the little hand which lay so trustingly in his. He found himself safely outside at last, and drove away, wretched to the soul.
But below his wretchedness something whispered: "SHEappreciates me, and her dot is quite as large."
