Blessed crown! and thrice-blessed blindness--else
there were fewer coronations.
So Brandon stirred this antagonism and determined not to see her
manifold perfections, which he felt sure were exaggerated; but to
treat her as he would the queen--who was black and leathery enough to
frighten a satyr--with all respect due to her rank, but with his own
opinion of her nevertheless, safely stored away in the back of his
head.
Coming up to the group, Brandon took off his hat, and, with a graceful
little bow that let the curls fall around his face, asked: "Have I the
honor to find the Princess Mary among these ladies?"
Mary, who I know you will at once say was thoroughly spoiled, without
turning her face toward him, replied:
"Is the Princess Mary a person of so little consequence about the
court that she is not known to a mighty captain of the guard?"
He wore his guardsman's doublet, and she knew his rank by his
uniform. She had not noticed his face.
Quick as a flash came the answer: "I can not say of what consequence
the Princess Mary is about the court; it is not my place to determine
such matters.
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