realize that you can hurt people. And all that fancy about the hero—the Prince"
"Yes, the hero—the Prince. Is that like a child, too? But the child's fancies sometimes become the realities of the woman."
"This is what I meant by absolute frankness. If the Prince comes, tell me; you will be able to trust me. I shall stand aside. I will worry you no more. Wait, and I will wait, too."
"For my Prince? And how long do you give me to wait?"
"You shall fix your own time. Throw a gauntlet to fate."
The phrase struck her. "'A gauntlet to fate.' I like that. I did not know that you could say such poetic things. Well, I will throw a gauntlet to fate. Well, here's my challenge." She flung a glove she carried into the air. As it came down she tried to catch it; but it fell almost into his hand.
"That is an omen!" he exclaimed. "And the time?"
"I challenge fate to bring my Prince along within the year—a year from this day—what is the date?"
"The twenty-ninth of March."
"The twenty-ninth of next March, then. It shall be yes or no once and for all."
CHAPTER VI.
THE COMING OF THE PRINCE.
Elsie seemed a little depressed for a week after Frank Hallett's visit. She felt that she had committed herself. To be sure she consoled herself with the reflection that she had the fullest right to throw him over if her Prince came. But suppose that no Prince came, and that she had reached no further pitch of romantic ardour than she had at present attained.
