Frederick The Great and His Family

he court-yard of Monbijou, and the prince demanded of his m

erings were greater than usual, and she was not able to leave her bed. Therefore, she could not receive the prince as a queen, but only as a mother, without ceremony or etiquette. That the meeting might be entirely withou

have cried aloud for joy as he saw her in her bewildering loveliness, her luxuriant beauty. He longed to seize her

had only eyes and ears for the queen, who was just dismissing her with winning w

ur majesty's commands," said

s absent-minded and restless, and the more the queen endeavored to engage him in harmless and unconstrained conversation, the more monosyllabic and preoccu

her lips, and her brilliant, bewitching eyes were filled with tears. Louise wept; she wept for her last youthful dream, her last hope of happiness and virtue, for

d was there to see them carried out. He sat behind that portiere that led into the grand salo

that Fritz Wendel still lives, and that I shall be

e felt that the king's eyes were no longer upon her, her tears flowed unceasingly. Perhaps Frederick still saw

sees you with tearful eyes, he w

he will believe I am weeping for joy

he felt for her agony,

fil it bravely for the sake of my daughter. It concerns Camilla's happine

e started up, and laid her hand in terror upon her heart. She heard steps appr

nstinctive fear she flew away from the door and

a few moments to recover. The door opened and Prince Henry entered;

mile with which he greeted her. Never had he appeared so handso

s or regrets. He was there, he stood before her, offered both

play, and she dared not lis

ike the wail of a lost soul-"ah, my prince, take care! we women a

est meaning. And now that we are alone, we will dispense with ceremony. You must justify yourself before a lover-a lover who is unfortunately very jealous

r highness? I do not believe it is the custom for ladies to write to gentlemen v

e so unapproachable, at least for me. But you must have known that my though

d not know it," said

ed Henry, wonderingly. "We

ght that Prince Henry had overcome or for

d t

red all kinds of foolish things to my weak heart. The prince is young, handsome, and amiable, and it amuses him to win the love of fair ladies. Had you seen him more frequently, it is possible he might have succeeded with poor Louise, and the little flirtation we carried on together would have resulted in earnest love on my part. That would have been a great misf

with pale, trembling lips. "Did your eyes, those o

es are indeed my slaves, and must obey. Yes, th

uil, but he pressed his hand nervously on the chair t

er will her voice trembled and faltered-"the happiness that a true, earnest love

had a wild, despairing expression, and

y, pious words. What do they

stly that I have promised to become the wife of

aised his hands as if to curse the o

ce-"if this is true, I despise, I hate you, and t

you insult me,

, madame, I loved you: I saw in you a goddess, where others saw only a coquette. I adored you as an innocent sacrifice to envy and malice; I saw a martyr's crown upon your brow, and wished to change it for the myrtle-crown of marriage. And my love and hopes

ioned her heart if this bitter hour was not sufficient atonement for all her faults

anding in the middle of the saloon, and looked at Louise with a strangely altered countenance. She had

w her tears as they rolled one by one from her eye

cleared, and as he approached Louise his e

not understand your words; in my folly and jealousy I misconceived your meaning; you only wished to try me, to see if my love was armed and strong, if it was as bold and faithf

e her hand, but

hat I have said before? I do not

Well, then, I will explain. Did you not say that you now love so tr

d that, you

immed my eyes and prevented me from seeing what is written with golden letters upon your smiling lips and beaming eyes. Ah, Louise, I thank you for your precious words, at last you are captured, at last

is beautiful, smili

I spoke the simple truth. My heart has made its choice-sinc

er hands violently from him. "You are very crue

the truth. I am the betrot

in du Trouffle!" repeated the prince, staring a

love him," said Louis

" cried the prince

ld I deceive

plaything, to be thrown away so lightly! No, no, Louise, I have seen often in your beaming eyes, your eloquent smiles, I have felt in your soft and tender tones, that you loved me fondly; and now in your pale, sad face I see that you love me still, and that it is the king who wishes to separate us. My poor, lovely child, you have been intimidated; you think that my brother, who reigns supreme over millions, will yield to no obstacle, that it is vain to resist him. But you are mistaken, Louise; you have forgotten that I am Frederick's brother, that the proud, unconquerable blood of the Hohenzollerns flows also in my veins. Let my brother try to force me to his purpose; I shall be no weak tool in his hands. You had not fi

nd unselfish love that the prince offered her. But her glance fell involuntarily upon the curtain, behind which the king stood, and it seemed to her as if she sa

id the prince; "you give m

iron hand was teari

not reproach you, neither was I in despair. I soon found that it was stupid and dreary to have my heart unoccupied, and I sought for and soon found a lover, to whom my heart became a willing captive. Therefore, when Captain Trouffle pleaded earnestly for my hand, I had not the courage to say n

, the color faded from his cheeks, the light from his eyes; a smile was still on

raise, I congratulate you. Captain du Trouffle is a most fortunate man-he wil

r into his cold, iron face-she listened with horror to that voic

uestion, and his tone was

uise; "we must first obtain the

does not fail you," sa

forgive me for leaving you. Many greetings to your betrothed-I sha

, without glancing at her again,

ow she fell, as if broken, to the floor, as if struck by lightning; and when the d

with anger when he saw Louise upon the floor. For him she was but a heartless coquette, and he was angry wi

r could weep a tear of pity, the

herself from the ground and mad

me," said the king, sternly. "You have played a dishono

no longer loves but despises me. Your commands are fulfilled to

mine. I shall not forget what I promised you when you are Madame

ght bow, and gazed after he

antechamber. The door opened immediately, and

r, Pollnitz?" aske

r Prince Henry

the door, but he remained standing there unt

cover, for he is a man; in my youthful