The Princess, I know, has great need of a maid of honor near her person, and will gladly welcome a friend of mine for the post." The Little Playmate looked up astonished, as well she might, at this direct assault, which was moreover spoken with a pretty shamefacedness and the air of asking almost too great a favor.

And, indeed, if there was any patronage in the thing offered, it was at least carefully kept out of the manner of asking.
"Lady Ysolinde, I cannot accept your too overpowering favor," said Helene, after a pause, "but your kindness in thinking at all of me will always warm my heart." At this critical moment came my father in, looking more than grave and severe, so that I judged at once that he had been talking to the Duke Casimir and had found his post of chief adviser both thankless and difficult.

I knew it could be no matter of his office which worried him, for that day he wore his holiday attire of white Friesland cloth, and the broad bonnet in which I loved best to see him.

There was no mark of his calling about him anywhere, save a little Red Axe sewed upon his left breast like a war veteran's decoration..