So what am I to do but let the dears have their way?
Well, this morning, when Rupert was with the Voivode at a meeting of the National Council in the Great Hall, Teuta came to me, and (after closing the door and bolting it, which surprised me a little) came and knelt down beside me, and put her face in my lap.

I stroked her beautiful black hair, and said: "What is it, Teuta darling?
Is there any trouble?
And why did you bolt the door?
Has anything happened to Rupert ?" When she looked up I saw that her beautiful black eyes, with the stars in them, were overflowing with tears not yet shed.

But she smiled through them, and the tears did not fall.

When I saw her smile my heart was eased, and I said without thinking: "Thank God, darling, Rupert is all right." "I thank God, too, dear Aunt Janet!" she said softly; and I took her in my arms and laid her head on my breast.
"Go on, dear," I said; "tell me what it is that troubles you ?" This time I saw the tears drop, as she lowered her head and hid her face from me.
"I'm afraid I have deceived you, Aunt Janet, and that you will not--cannot--forgive me." "Lord save you, child!" I said, "there's nothing that you could do that I could not and would not forgive.

Not that you would ever do anything base, for that is the only thing that is hard to forgive.