His daughter, after the death of the Princess, began her extended visits to the home of her girlhood.

So long as the Princess was alive she remained away from Edelweiss, reluctant to meet the friend who had banished her husband long before the wedding day in Buda Pesth.

Now she came frequently and stayed for weeks at a time, apparently happy during these escapes from life in the great capitals.

Here, at least, she was free from the grim old man whose countess she was; here, all was sweet and warm and friendly, delicious contrast to the cold, bitter life she knew on the Danube.
Without warning she came and without farewells she left Edelweiss on the occasion of these periodical visits.

No word was ever spoken concerning her husband, except on the rare occasions when she opened her heart to the father who had bartered her into slavery for the sake of certain social franchises that the Iron Count had at his disposal.