Page 42 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

a similar speech to her brothers, they
answered frankly that they should be
delighted, and when to prove them she added,
"Yes, I would that ye sat on the highest thrones
in the world, though I should never see ye
more." They immediately answered, "You are
right, sister, it would be well worth the
sacrifice." "You would consent then, in that

case," said she, "not to see me again?"
"Certainly," they replied, "we should be
satisfied with occasionally hearing of you."
When she was alone she reflected on these
various modes of loving, and she found her
own feelings corresponded exactly to theirs,
for though Petit-Soleil and Heureux were dear

to her, she had no desire to pass her life
continually with them, while with regard to
Cheri, she burst into tears whenever she
contemplated the probability that their father
might send him to sea or carry him to the
wars. It was then that love, disguised under
the specious form of natural affection,
established itself in these young hearts. At
fourteen, Belle-Etoile began to reproach

herself with the injustice she felt she was
doing her brothers by not loving them all
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