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Krak came toward me; a moment later I occupied a position which, to my lively discomfort, I had filled once or twice before in my short life, but which I had not supposed that I should fill again after what the archbishop had said. I set my teeth to endure; I was full of bewilderment, surprise, and anger. The archbishop had played me terribly false; the Arabian Nights were no less delusive.
"God did not make you king for your own pleasure," Krak used to say with that instinctive knowledge of the Deity which marks those who train the young. No, nor for my sister's, nor even that I might conciliate my sister's love. Nay, again, nor even that I might make my sister happy. For none of these ends did I sit where I sat. But I felt very forlorn and sad as I looked at the old Prince.
"If you were in Styria, instead of here, you'd be locked up in your own room for a month on bread and water; yes, you may think yourself lucky that I only take you to Biarritz." "Styria!" said Victoria with a very bitter smile. "If I were in Styria I should be beheaded, I daresay, or or knouted, or something. Oh, I know what Styria means! Krak taught me that."
I was very young, and the sense of outrage did not last, but the puzzle persisted, and Victoria's riper philosophy was taxed to allay it. Waiting seemed the only thing, waiting till I could fling my shoes at whom I would, and sit on my throne to behold the bastinadoing of Krak. My mother told me that I must be an obedient boy first. Well and good; but then why make me a king now?
My mother went up and whispered to Krak. Krak had, of course, risen, and stood now listening with a heavy frown. My mother drew herself up proudly; she seemed to brace herself for an effort; I heard nothing except "I think you should consult me," but our quick children's eyes apprehended the meaning of the scene. Krak was being bearded.
I do not mean to assert that Krak was not and had not been all along fond of me, but in ordinary seasons to feel affection was with Krak no reason at all for displaying it. I do more justice to Krak now; then I did not appreciate the change in her demeanour.
"I shall have to fetch your mother," she said. "I'm above my mother; she knelt to me," I retorted triumphantly. Krak advanced toward me. "Augustin, take off your shoes," said she. I had no love for Krak. Dearest of all gifts of sovereignty would be the power of defying Krak. "Do you really want me to take them off?" I asked. "This instant," commanded Krak.
"It's quite time enough for them to begin to do as they like when they grow up," said the Princess Heinrich. "By then, though," said Krak, "they will have learned, I hope, to do what they ought." "I hope so with all my heart, Baroness," said I. "Victoria is absurdly weak with her child," Princess Heinrich complained. Krak smiled significantly.
When she was extremely angry with her mother she would say, "How odious it must be not to be young any more!" I thought that there was sometimes a wistful look in my mother's eyes; was she thinking of Krak, Krak in far-off Styria?
"Good Heavens, does the world still hold Krak?" "Of course. She's rather an old woman, though. You'll be kind to her, Augustin? She was always very fond of you." "I will treat Krak," said I, "with all affection." Surely I would, for Krak's coming put the crown of completeness on the occasion. But I was amazed; Krak was utterly stuff of the past.
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