Frederick the Great and His Cou

UES AND CAPUL

led upon, and his just claim to the gratitude of his generation disallowed. What advantage was it to him to be the acknowledged tailor of two queens? Since, in the ardor of his patriotism, he had refused to employ French hands, not one of all those ladies who had formerly confided to him the secrets of their toilets remembered his discretion, or his ability to hide their defects, or supply their wants. The fickle and ungrateful world had forsaken him. Even the Hohenzollerns had forgotten the great deeds and still greater services of the Prickers, and no longer knew how

ath to this dandy Frenchman; he would therefore remain in those ancestral halls, which had so long sheltered the tailor of the two queens. He remained, but the death-worm was gnawing at his heart. Pricker still gazed across the street, and with an added pang he saw another carriage roll

Orguelin and her future husband. Pricker advanced to meet them

id not send for you, but we should have lost time

ceive noble persons; my grandfather had once the hap

demoiselle Orguelin-"the robes for a first p

choose blue velvet, it is most becoming to blondes,

, "with a train of silver. For the ball dress, my f

appearance of the Countess Rhedern w

se to be ready

ker, taking the long measure from

your taste, but of course my dres

oiselle Orguelin; he now removed it violently. "You desire you

be ridiculous to appear at court in a stiff old German costume. You must make me the tight-fitting Fren

with heroic determination

made in the house of P

refuse to w

would be an insult to my ancestors. I will

y will cost you. You will lose all the patronage of th

ould be sufficient to recall them. Would I be untrue to the customs of my fathers, would I employ French workmen, all those carriages would be arrayed before my door. I hold the destiny of that contemptible

s arm to his bride,

erman tailor may be a consummate fool! Come,

the middle of the saloon, and looked up, like a conq

e made a new sacrifice to your names. My ho

e king. "Nel tue giorni felice ricordati da me," sang the beautiful Anna, while Father Pricker ran, like a madman, up and down the room,

era and its horrors, hut I shall lose my chil

red the room, with spark

s at last promised that I shall sing at the next court concert. In eight days the king return

ali

e door. "She will give all the world an opportunity to laugh and

otice her teacher; and, as her mother e

at the court. I shall cover myself with glory, and the da

ou not know that you

hall be proud of

he looks of her husband. Anna scar

to think of my dress; it

s an honor to sing before the king. I will make you a

at-grandmothers. The day is gone by for family relics. How the ladies of the court would laugh at my mother

her, in tones of horror; "sh

e wear one? and have not all the court ladies adopted them? N

rising from his chair and looking th

love like a sister, and to whom I can only pay stolen visits, for her father is furious tha

old. I thought, Anna, you had too much pride to enter th

silently, and now quick st

etre amoreuse," sang

ricker, wild with rage.

he cuffs and high-standing collar were richly embroidered in silver; his vest was "coleur de chair," and instead of a long plait, William had covered his hair with a powdered wig. A small three-cornered hat, worn jauntily to one side, was

thy of a nobleman? only I cannot wear the white feathe

er, approaching him slowly; "who gave you the money to pa

has not yet been paid for. The name of Pricker has a silvery sound; Pelissier knows that, and credited me willingly; th

ng, with feverish violence, the long tails o

s ridiculous manner! And you, William, you were shameless enough to receive this suit from your father'

s only a costume, and has nothing

ess of his folly he has lost himself, I will bring him back with violence, if necessary, to the r

th both hands the lace collar, and laughed when the shreds remained in his hands. William was at first dumb with terror, but the lo

I will not bear this treatment; I will dr

e children of the new era, and will dress as it demands. Why did our parents gi

days may be long in the land which the Lord t

ly. "The book is no longer fashionable; a

e my commands! woe to you if you defy my authority! I will disown you-and my curse shall be your inheritance; remember this. If you ever enter that house again, or speak to any

the room; the brother a

ey these commands? Will you wear the qu

may laugh at me. You do not know, Anna, how much Blanche and myself love

an honorable tailor,

ceived the education of a nobleman! no, no, Anna,

u will be disinherited;

at I am the husband of Blanche; he has threatened her with his curse if she marries me. But in spite o

is a tailor's da

autiful and amia

elebrated singer, and t

not be the wife of a celebrated man,

man or a woma

ll be an actor; but silence, this