Stephen—by heaven, I have a curiosity to see her!" "And, by heaven! so have I," added Prince Rudolf with a merry smile. "And poor Henry here may be cured by the sight." [pg 17] The Princess Osra leant a little further forward, and said gently: [pg 17] "Tell us her name, and we will send for her. Indeed I also would like to see her." "But if she refuses, I shall be worse off than I am now; and if she says yes, still I must marry the Countess," objected the smith. "Nay," said the King, "if she does not refuse you three times, you shall not marry the Countess, but shall be free to try your fortune with the girl;" for the smith had put the old Lion in a better temper, and he thought he was to witness more sport. "Since your Majesty is so good, I must tell her name," said Stephen, "though I had rather have declared my love to herself alone." "It is the pleasantest way," said Prince Rudolf, "but the thing can be done in the presence of others also." "You must tell us her name that we may send for her," said the Princess, her eyes wandering now from the Countess to the smith, and back to the Countess again. "Well, then," said Stephen sturdily, "the lady who came riding down the street and took away my heart with her is called Osra, and her father is named Henry." [pg 18] A moment or two passed before they understood what the smith had said. Then the old King fell into a fit of laughter, half choked by coughing; Prince Rudolf clapped his hands in merry mockery, and a deep flush spread over the face of the Princess; while the Countess, her companion, and the younger Prince seemed too astonished to do anything but stare. As for Stephen, having said what he had to say, he held his peace—a thing in him which many men, and women also, would do well to imitate; and, if they cannot, let them pray for the grace that is needful. Heaven is omnipotent. [pg 18] The old King, having recovered from his fit of laughing, looked round on the smith with infinite amusement, and, turning to his daughter, he said: "Come, Osra, you have
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