"It has never
been my will," a furtive glance at the King.
"But--" began the King. He was wrathful.
"Your Majesty," said the innkeeper, "you are a great King; be a
generous one."
All looked at him as though they expected to see the King fly at him
and demolish him--all but I. The King walked up to the bold speaker,
took his measure, then, with his hands clasped behind his back, resumed
his pacing. After a while he came to a standstill.
"Your Highness," he said to Phyllis, "what shall I do with this man who
has so grossly wronged you?"
"Forgive him."
The King passed on. I was not looking at him, but at the innkeeper. I
saw his lip tremble and his eyes fill. Suddenly he fell upon his knees
before Phyllis and raised her hand to his lips.
"Will Your Highness forgive a sinner who only now realizes the wrong he
has done to you?"
"Yes, I forgive you," said Phyllis. "The only wrong you have done to
me is to have made me a Princess. Your Majesty will forgive me, but it
is all so strange to me who have grown up in a foreign land which is
dearer to my heart than the land in which I was born.
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