Too absorbed
in their own concerns to notice who, if any one, was in the room,
they had run against and very nearly upset the astonished bearer
of dispatches. Still more astonished was he, when the girl, using
his body as a barrier against her pursuer, danced and dodged
around him to avoid being caught by her pursuer--a fine-looking
young lad of about her own age--Karl Gustav, her cousin. The
scandalized bearer of dispatches to the Swedish Council of
Regents shook himself free from the girl's strong grasp and
seizing her by the shoulder, demanded, sternly:
"How now, young mistress! Is this seemly conduct toward a
stranger and an imperial courier?"
The girl now for the first time noticed the presence of a
stranger. Too excited in her mad dash into the room to
distinguish him from one of the palace servants, she only learned
the truth by the courier's harsh words. A sudden change came over
her. She drew herself up haughtily and said to the attendant:
"And who is this officious stranger, Klas?
The tone and manner of the question again surprised the courier,
and he looked at the speaker, amazed. What he saw was an
attractive young girl of thirteen, short of stature, with bright
hazel eyes, a vivacious face, now almost stern in its expression
of pride and haughtiness.
Pages:
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195