"
"A regular treaty or agreement was drawn up. Conditions were sealed
and signed. One condition was that both Lady Glencora and I should be
there. We put our heads together to try to avoid this; as, of course,
the Prince would not want to see me particularly,--and it was
altogether so grand an affair that things had to be weighed. But the
Duke was inexorable. Lady Glencora at such a time would have other
things to do, and I must be there, or Gatherum Castle should not be
opened. I suggested whether I could not remain in the background and
look after the Duke as a kind of upper nurse,--but Lady Glencora said
it would not do."
"Why should you subject yourself to such indignity?"
"Simply from love of the man. But you see I was not subjected. For
two days I wore my jewels beneath royal eyes,--eyes that will sooner
or later belong to absolute majesty. It was an awful bore, and I
ought to have been at Vienna. You ask me why I did it. The fact is
that things sometimes become too strong for one, even when there is
no real power of constraint.
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