Some delicious scandal, I hope." "No," answered Jennie; "it pertains to Government matters." "Oh, dear!" cried the Princess; "how tiresome! Politics are so dull." "I don't think this case is dull," said Jennie; "because it has brought Austria and England to the verge of war." "What a dreadful idea! I hadn't heard anything of it.

When did this happen ?" "Less than a month ago," and Jennie related the whole circumstance, giving a synopsis of the Premier's speech.
"But I see nothing in that speech to cause war," protested the Princess.
"It is as mild as new milk." "I don't pretend to understand diplomacy," continued Jennie, blushing slightly as she remembered Lord Donal; and it seemed that the same thought struck the Princess at the same moment, for she looked quizzically at Jennie and burst out into a laugh.
"You may laugh," cried the girl; "but I tell you that this is a serious business.

They say it only needed a second 'new milk' speech from the Premier to have England answer most politely in words of honey, and next instant the two countries would have been at each other's throats." "Suppose we write to Lord Donal in St.Petersburg," suggested the Princess, still laughing, "and ask him to come to Vienna and help us?
He understands all about diplomacy.

By the way, Jennie, did Lord Donal ever find out whom he met at the ball that night ?" "No, he didn't," answered Miss Baxter shortly.
"Don't you ever intend to let him know?
Are you going to leave the romance unfinished, like one of Henry James's novels ?" "It isn't a romance; it is simply a very distressing incident which I have been trying to forget ever since.

It is all very well for you to laugh, but if you ever mention the subject again I'll leave you and go to an hotel." "Oh, no, you won't," chirruped the Princess brightly; "you daren't.