She, too, stood motionless, a form of simple and perfect grace, and
met his gaze with soft, imploring, yet courageous and trustful
eyes. The women who watched the scene from the galleries above
always declared that an invisible saint stood beside her in that
moment, and surrounded her with a dazzling glory. The few moments
during which the suspense of a hundred hearts hung upon those
encountering eyes seemed an eternity.
Prince Alexis did not move, but he began to tremble from head to
foot. His fingers relaxed, and the whip fell ringing upon the
pavement. The wild fire of his eyes changed from wrath into an
ecstasy as intense, and a piercing cry of mingled wonder,
admiration and delight burst from his throat. At that cry Boris
rushed forward and knelt at his feet. Helena, clasping her
fairest hands, sank beside her husband, with upturned face, as if
seeking the old man's eyes, and perfect the miracle she had
wrought.
The sight of that sweet face, so near his own, tamed the last
lurking ferocity of the beast. His tears burst forth in a shower;
he lifted and embraced the Princess, kissing her brow, her cheeks,
her chin, and her hands, calling her his darling daughter, his
little white dove, his lambkin.
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