"But you live in Dreiberg and ought to know."
"You could have told me without bruising my arm," defiantly.
"I am sorry if I hurt you, but you ought to have known better. By which
sentry did you pass?" for there was that about her beauty which made
him suspicious regarding the sentry's imperviousness to it.
"Hermann!"
Gretchen and the head gardener whirled. Through a hedge which divided
the formal gardens from the tennis and archery grounds came a young
woman in riding-habit. She carried a book in one hand and a riding-whip
in the other.
"What is the trouble, Hermann?" she inquired. "Your voice was something
high."
"Your Highness, this young woman here had the impudence to walk into the
gardens and stroll about as nice as you please," indignantly.
"Has she stolen any flowers or trod on any of the beds?"
"Why, no, your Highness; but--"
"What is the harm, then?"
"But it is not customary, your Highness. If we permitted this on the
part of the people, the gardens would be ruined in a week."
"We, you and I, Hermann," said her highness, with a smile that won
Gretchen on the spot, "we will overlook this first offense. Perhaps this
young lady had some errand and lost her way."
"Yes, Highness," replied Gretchen eagerly.
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