Ought I to have let him? Yes, yes!
But I couldn't. Fritz, hadn't I done enough? You don't know what
I've endured. And I must endure more still. For he will go now,
and the time will be very long. But, at last, we shall be
together. There is pity in God; we shall be together at last."
"If he goes now, how can he come back?"
"He will not come back; I shall go to him. I shall give up the
throne and go to him, some day, when I can be spared from here,
when I've done my--my work."
I was aghast at this shattering of my vision, yet I could not be
hard to her. I said nothing, but took her hand and pressed it.
"You wanted him to be king?" she whispered.
"With all my heart, madam," said I.
"He wouldn't, Fritz. No, and I shouldn't dare to do that,
either."
I fell back on the practical difficulties. "But how can he go?" I
asked.
"I don't know. But he knows; he has a plan."
We fell again into silence; her eyes grew more calm, and seemed
to look forward in patient hope to the time when her happiness
should come to her. I felt like a man suddenly robbed of the
exaltation of wine and sunk to dull apathy. "I don't see how he
can go," I said sullenly.
She did not answer me.
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