"Have you nothing to say?" he asked, somewhat sternly.
"What should I say?" she responded, still smiling; "You are the King;
it is for you to speak!"
"She does not understand you, Sir," interrupted the Queen coldly; "Your
words are possibly too elaborate for her simple comprehension!"
Gloria turned a fearless beautiful glance upon her.
"Pardon me, Madam, but I do understand!" she said; "I understand that
by the law of God I am your son's wife, and that by the law of the
world I am no wife! I abide by the law of God!"
There was a moment's dead silence. Professor von Glauben gave a
discreet cough to break it, and the King, reminded of his presence
turned towards him.
"Has she no sense of the position?" he demanded.
"Sir, I have every reason to believe that she grasps it thoroughly!"
replied Von Glauben with a deferential bow.
"Then why----"
But here he was again interrupted by the Queen. She, raising herself in
her chair, her beautiful head and shoulders lifted statue-like from her
enshrining draperies of azure and white, stretched forth a hand and
beckoned Gloria towards her.
"Come here, child!" she said; then as Gloria advanced with evident
reluctance, she added; "Come closer--you must not be afraid of me!"
Gloria smiled.
"Nay, Madam, trouble not yourself at all in that regard! I never was
afraid of anyone!"
A shadow of annoyance darkened the Queen's fair brows.
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