She did
not see it, for she preferred to look at the table-cloth.
"Dreadful things have happened here," she said in a low voice.
"What sort?"
"Horrid sorts. Appalling sorts."
"Tell me."
"I couldn't bear to."
"But I think I know."
She looked at him astonished.
"Mrs. Pearce--"
"She told you?"
"What she knew she told me. Perhaps there's something she doesn't
know."
Priscilla remembered Robin, and blushed.
"Yes, she told me about that," said the Prince nodding.
"About what?" asked Priscilla, startled.
"About the squire intending to marry you."
"Oh," said Priscilla.
"It seems hard on him, don't it? Has it struck you that such things
are likely to occur pretty often to Miss Maria-Theresa Ethel
Neumann-Schultz?"
"I'm afraid you really have come only to laugh," said Priscilla, her
lips quivering.
"I swear it's only to see if you are happy."
"Well, see then." And throwing back her head with a great defiance she
looked at him while her eyes filled with tears; and though they
presently brimmed over, and began to drop down pitifully one by one,
she would not flinch but went on looking.
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