Urania sobbed nervously in Cornélie's arms when she told the young
princess that she was leaving that morning. She and Duco were alone
with Urania in her own drawing-room.
"What has happened?" sobbed Urania.
Cornélie told her of the previous evening:
"Urania," she said, seriously, "I know I am a coquette. I thought it
pleasant to talk with Gilio; call it flirting, if you like. I never
made a secret of it, either to Duco or to you. I looked upon it as an
amusement, nothing more. Perhaps I did wrong; I know it annoyed you
once before. I promised not to do it again; but it seems to be beyond
my control. It's in my nature; and I shall not attempt to defend
myself. I looked upon it as a trifle, as a diversion, as fun. But
perhaps it was wrong. Do you forgive me? I have grown so fond of you:
it would hurt me if you did not forgive me."
"Make it up with Gilio and stay on."
"That's impossible, my dear girl. Gilio has insulted me, Gilio drew his
knife against Duco; and those are two things which I can never forgive
him. So it is impossible for us to remain."
"I shall be so lonely!" she sobbed. "I also am so fond of you, I am
fond of you both. Is there no way out of it? Bob is going to-morrow,
too. I shall be all alone. And I have nothing here, nobody who is fond
of me...."
"You have a great deal left, Urania. You have an object in life; you
can do any amount of good in your surroundings. You are interested in
the castle, which is now your own."
"It's all so empty!" she sobbed. "It means nothing to me. I need
affection. Who is there that is fond of me? I have tried to love Gilio
and I do love him, but he doesn't care for me. Nobody cares for me."
"Your poor are devoted to you. You have a noble aim in life."
"I'm glad of it, but I am too young to live only for an aim. And I have
nothing else. Nobody cares for me."
"Prince Ercole, surely?"
"No, he despises me. Listen. I told you once before what Gilio said
... that there were no family-jewels, that they were all sold: you
remember, don't you? Well, there _are_ family-jewels. I gathered that
from something the Contessa di Rosavilla said. There are family-jewels.
But Prince Ercole keeps them in the Banco di Roma. They despise me; and
I am not thought good enough to wear them. Arid to me they pretend that
there are none left. And the worst of it is that all their friends, all
their set know that the jewels are there, in the bank, and they all say
that Prince Ercole is right. My money is good enough for them, but I am
not good enough for their old jewels, the jewels of their grandmother!"
"That's a shame!" said Cornélie.
"It's the truth!" sobbed Urania. "Oh, do make it up, stay a little
longer, for my sake!..."
"Judge for yourself, Urania: we really can't."
"I suppose you're right," she admitted, with a sigh. "It's all my
fault."
"No, no, Gilio is sometimes so impetuous...."
"But his impetuousness, his anger, his jealousy are my fault. I am
sorry about it, Urania, because of you. Forgive me. Come and look me
up in Rome when you go back. Don't forget me; and write, won't you?...
Now I must go and pack my trunk. What time is the train?"
"Ten twenty-five," said Duco. "We shall go together."
"Can I say good-bye to Prince Ercole? Send and ask if he can see me."
"What shall I tell him?"
"The first thing that comes into your head: that a friend of mine in
Rome is ill, that I am going to look after her and that Van der Staal
is taking me back because I am nervous travelling. I don't care what
Prince Ercole thinks."
"Cornélie...."
"Darling, I really haven't another moment. Kiss me and forgive me. And
think of me sometimes. Good-bye. We have had a delightful time together
and I have grown very fond of you."
She tore herself from Urania's embrace; Duco also said good-bye. They
left the princess sobbing by herself. In the passage they met Gilio.
"Where are you going?" he asked, in his humble voice.
"We are going by the ten twenty-five."
"I am very, very sorry...."
But they went on and left him standing there, while Urania sat sobbing
in the drawing-room.