She found her lying back drowsily against a sunny bank.
Erebus came to an abrupt stop before her and cried fiercely: "Princess or no princess, you shan't kiss the Terror!" The drowsiness fled; and the princess sat up.

Her gray eyes darkened and sparkled.

She had never made a face in her life; it is not improbable, seeing how sheltered a life she had led, that she was ignorant that faces were made; but quite naturally she made a hideous face at Erebus, and said: "I shall!" "If you do, I'll smack you!" cried Erebus; and she ground her teeth.
For all her Hohenzollern blood, the princess was a timid child; but by a gracious provision of nature even the timidest female will fight in the matter of a male.

She met Erebus' blazing eyes squarely and said confidently: "He won't let you.

And if you do he'll smack you--much harder!" Had the princess been standing up, Erebus would have smacked her then and there.