"What is the Duke Casimir to me that am a Princess?
If he is good, I will give him my hand to kiss!" But at this point I rushed from the ladder-head, and, taking her in my arms, I sped up the turret stairs with her out upon the leads, my hand over her mouth all the time.
And as I ran I could hear the Duke trampling upward not twenty steps in the rear.

I opened the trap-door and went out into the clear morning sunshine.

And only the turn of the stair prevented Casimir from seeing me go up the narrow turret corkscrew with my little white burden.
Then I heard voices beneath, and I knew, as if I had seen it, that my father stood up straight at the salute.

Presently the voices lowered, and I knew also that the Duke Casimir was unbending as he did to none else in his realm save to the Hereditary Justicer of the Wolfmark.
But I had my hands full with the little Princess.

I dared not go down the stairs.