Twonette courtesied and stepped to her father's side.
Yolanda gave Max her hand and lifted it to be kissed.

The girl laughed joyously, and, giving him her other hand, stood looking up into his face.

Her laughter soon became nervous, and that change in a womanly woman is apt to be the forerunner of tears.

They soon came to moisten Yolanda's eyes, but she kept herself well in hand and said:-- "It has been a very long time, Sir Max, since last I saw you." "A hard, cruel time for me, Fraeulein.

Your hot-headed duke gives strange license to his murderous courtiers," answered Max.
"It has been a hard time for others, too," she responded.