He pushed the boyish figure aside and whispered earnestly into Yetive's
ear. She smiled warmly in response, and her eyes sparkled.
"And this, your highness, is his sister, the Princess Candace," he
announced aloud, bowing low before the girl. At that instant she ceased
to be the timid, cringing boy. Her chin went up in truly regal state as
she calmly, even haughtily, responded to the dazed, half-earnest salutes
of the men. With a rare smile--a knowing one in which mischief was
paramount--she spoke to Baldos, giving him her hand to kiss.
"Ah, dear Baldos, you have achieved your sweetest triumph--the
theatrical climax to all this time of plotting. My brother's sister
loves you for all this. Your highness," and she turned to Yetive with a
captivating smile, "is the luckless sister of Dantan welcome in your
castle? May I rest here in peace? It has been a bitterly long year, this
past week," she sighed. Fatigue shot back into her sweet face, and
Yetive's love went out to her unreservedly. As she drew the slight
figure up the steps she turned and said to her ministers:
"I shall be glad to receive Prince Dantan in the throne-room, without
delay. I am going to put the princess to bed."
"Your highness," said Baldos from below, "may I be the first to announce
to you that there will be no war with Dawsbergen?"
This was too much.
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