The duke was right.

The goose-girl was not a whit the inferior of the princess.

And the thing which struck him with most force was that, while each possessed a beauty individual to herself, it was not opposite, but strangely alike.
The goose-girl had returned to her gloomy Krumerweg, the princess had gone to her apartments, and Herbeck to his cabinet.

The duke was alone.
For a long period he stood before the portrait of his wife.

The beauties of his courtship trooped past him; for God had given to the grand duke of Ehrenstein that which He denies most of us, high or low, a perfect love.
"Always, always, dear heart," he whispered; "in this life and in the life to come.