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He'll be a proper Prince of Kinesma, my
daughter, and we owe it to you."
Helena smiled, and gave him a grateful glance in return. She had
had her secret fears as to the complete conversion of Prince
Alexis; but now she saw in this babe a new spell whereby he might
be bound. Slight as was her knowledge of men, she yet guessed the
tyranny of long-continued habits; and only her faith, powerful in
proportion as it was ignorant, gave her confidence in the result of
the difficult work she had undertaken.

XII.

Alas! the proud predictions of Prince Alexis, and the protection of
the sacred amulet, were alike unavailing. The babe sickened,
wasted away, and died in less than two months after its birth.
There was great and genuine sorrow among the serfs of Kinesma.
Each had received a shining ruble of silver at the christening;
and, moreover, they were now beginning to appreciate the milder
regime of their lord, which this blow might suddenly terminate.
Sorrow, in such natures as his, exasperates instead of chastening:
they knew him well enough to recognize the danger.


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