Every day somewhat of the deep sadness that had been in the princess's face faded away; every day hope and animation beamed brighter from her eye; and by and by even vagrant smiles visited the face that had been so troubled.
Conrad was appalled.

He bitterly cursed himself for having yielded to the instinct that had made him seek the companionship of one of his own sex when he was new and a stranger in the palace--when he was sorrowful and yearned for a sympathy such as only women can give or feel.

He now began to avoid his cousin.

But this only made matters worse, for, naturally enough, the more he avoided her the more she cast herself in his way.

He marveled at this at first, and next it startled him.