The Slim Princess | Page 7

still, my child!" he commanded. "You don't know what you are
saying!"
"Yes, I do know what I am saying!" she persisted, her voice rising
shrilly. "Do they wish to know about me? Must they know the truth?
Then look! Look!"
With sweeping outward gestures she threw off the soft quilted robes
gathered about her, tore away the veil and stood before them in a white
gown that fairly revealed every modified in-and-out of her figure.
What ensued? Is it necessary to tell? The costume in which she stood
forth was no more startling or immodest than the simple gown which
the American high-school girl wears on her Commencement Day, and
it was decidedly more ample than the sum of all the garments worn at
polite social gatherings in communities somewhat to the west.
Nevertheless, the company stood aghast. They were doubly
horrified--first, at the effrontery of the girl, and second, at the
revelation of her real person, for they saw that she was doomed,
helpless, bereft of hope, slim beyond all curing.

V
HE ARRIVES

Kalora was alone.
After putting the company to consternation she had flung herself
defiantly back into the chair and directed a most contemptuous gaze at
all the desirable young men of her native land.
The Governor-General made a choking attempt to apologize and
explain, and then, groping for an excuse to send the people away,
suggested that the company view the new stables. The acrobats were
dismissed. The guests went rapidly to an inspection of the carriages and
horses. They were glad to escape. Jeneka, crushed in spirit and shamed
at the brazen performance of her sister, began a plaintive conjecture as
to "what people would say," when Kalora turned upon her such a
tigerish glance that she fairly ran for her apartment, although she was
too corpulent for actual sprinting. Mrs. Plumston remained behind as
the only comforter.
"It was a most contemptible proceeding, my child. When they lifted us
and carried us to the other side of the tree I thought it was rather nice of
them; something on the order of the old Walter Raleigh days of
chivalry, and all that. And just think! The beasts did it to find out
whether or not you were really plump and heavy. It's a most
extraordinary incident."
"I wouldn't marry one of them now, not if he begged and my father
commanded!" said Kalora bitterly. "And poor Jeneka! This takes away
her last chance. Until I am married she can not marry, and after to-day
not even a blind man would choose me."
"For goodness' sake, don't worry! You tell me you are nineteen. No
woman need feel discouraged until she is about thirty-five. You have
sixteen years ahead of you."
"Not in Morovenia."
"Why remain in Morovenia?"
"We are not permitted to travel."

"Perhaps, after what happened to-day, your father will be glad to let
you travel," said Mrs. Plumston with a significant little nod and a wise
squint. "Don't you generally succeed in having your own way with
him?"
"Oh, to travel--to travel!" exclaimed Kalora, clasping her hands. "If I
am to remain single and a burden for ever, perhaps it would lighten
father's grief if I resided far away. My presence certainly would remind
him of the wreck of all his ambitions, but if I should settle down in
Vienna or Paris, or--" she paused and gave a little gasp--"or if anything
should happen to me, if I should--should disappear, that is, really
disappear, Jeneka would be free to marry and--"
"Oh, pickles!" said Mrs. Plumston. "I have heard of romantic young
women jumping overboard and taking poison on account of rich young
men, but I never heard of a girl's snuffing herself out so as to give her
sister a chance to get married. The thing for you to do at a time like this,
when you find yourself in a tangle, is to think of yourself and your own
chances for happiness. Father and Jeneka will take care of themselves.
They are popular and beloved characters here in Morovenia. They are
not taking you into consideration except as you seem to interfere with
their selfish plans. I have made it a rule not to work out my neighbor's
destiny."
"What can I do?" asked Kalora, seemingly impressed by the
earnestness of the consul's wife.
"Leave Morovenia. Keep at your father until he consents to your going.
Here you are despised and ridiculed--a victim of heathen prejudice left
over from the Dark Ages. Get away, even if you have to walk, and take
my word for it, the moment you leave Morovenia you will be a very
beautiful girl; not a merely attractive young person, but what we would
call at home a radiant beauty--the oriental type, you know. And