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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915 edition. Excerpt:...hands. "Promise, promise," she cried in a stifled voice, "that you will be my friend. Promise that you will stop here as long as Prince Otto remains." CHAPTER XII THE POISONED HAIBBBUSH She lurched towards me, and I caught her arms in my hands to steady her. She drew back her head and laughed, and her laughter was shrill and frightened and hideous. Her mouth was parted in a wild grin, and her hair was tossed back from her forehead in great disorder. Then as suddenly as she had begun to laugh she jerked her head forward, so that her hair tumbled over it and brushed my breast, and burst into a storm of weeping. I was at my wits' end to know what to do. I could see that the poor child was hysterical to the verge of madness, and I was no hand at soothing such distress as hers. Moreover, I was painfully anxious lest we should be observed; not so much for my sake as for hers. Instinctively I glanced along the corridor, the end of which was lost in shadows. I listened intently, but no sound came except the girl's weeping. "Tell me," I said kindly, "why you do not wish me to go away until after Prince Otto has gone." Again she laughed wildly, and cried out--"Because I hate him--because I am afraid. Don't leave me while he is here. Promise you will not leave Longford!" It was not a difficult matter to promise that, and I promised it. All my heart was in revolt against the thousand secrets which hemmed me in on every side, the thousand secrets which I could not fathom, the thousand secrets which seemed to hold so terrible a sway over poor little Gerta. "No, no!" I said. "Believe me that I will not go. I came here because I knew that Prince Otto was to arrive to-morrow. I do not know...