He saw darling faces in the rugged outlines of the mountains, in the white clouds billowing across, in the patches of dazzling blue in between.

Such is the fancy of a man in love! His letter of resignation was on its way, but it would be in November before he heard definitely from the department.

By that time the great snows would have blanketed the earth, and the nadir of his discontent would be reached.

But what to do till that time?
He could ride for some weeks, but riding without companionship was rather a lonesome affair.
His own defiance of the chancellor had erected an impassable barrier between her highness and himself.

They would watch him now, evade him, put small obstacles in his path, obstacles against which he could enter no reasonable complaint.