She stood looking at him, resting one hand on the table, while he came slowly towards her, moving almost unconsciously in the direction of her exquisite beauty, as a plant lifts itself to the sun at morning.

He was near to her, and he stretched out his arms as if to draw her to him.

She smiled then, for in his eyes she forgot her trouble for a moment, and she would have kissed him.

But suddenly his face grew grave, and he set his teeth, and instead of taking her into his arms, he took one of her hands and raised it to his lips, as if it had been the hand of his brother's wife, the young Queen.
"Why ?" she asked in surprise, and with a little start.
"You are here under my protection," he answered.

"Let me have my own way." "Yes, I understand.