text:  The king had seen Christina too--and though despising love himself was in the habit of rewarding his favourite officers with the hand of the beauties or heiresses of his court; and when as in this instance the lady chosen was both--how could he doubt that the king had already resolved that she should be the bride of some lucky rival against whose claims it would be impossible to contend? And Christina standing all the while before him scarcely able to restrain a laugh! He was only twenty-one--and not half so steady as his grandfather would probably have shown himself in the same circumstances and being unable to vent his rage on any body else he poured it all forth upon himself