Frederick the Great and His Cou

atives of all nations had come together to greet the heroic young king. Greeks and Turks were there in gold-embroidered, bejewelled apparel. Odalisks, Spanish, Russian, and German

distorted faces, one might have imagined himself transported to Elysium, where all nations and all races are united in unclouded bliss. But the cold, glittering masks which concealed

ine, who knew well that her husband loved to see his queen appear in a magnificence befitting her dignity on festive occasions, had adorned herself with the exquisite jewelry which excited the admiration of the entire court, and which Baron Bielfeld declared to be a perfect miracle of beauty

e each other; Sophia Dorothea was about to receive Count Neal, while

s Rhedern and Count Neal, and they were now entering the saloon, the sanctuary which was only open to the favored and privileged, only to those

outh and beauty, were still interesting. Her countenance was indicative of energy and decision. An expression of benevolence played around her large but well-formed mouth; and her dark eyes, which were not cast down, but reste

orget her nameless descent: but the quiet and unconstrained bearing of the newly created countess enraged her. Moreover, she felt offended by the elegant and costly toilet of the countess. The long silver-embroidered train, fastened to her shoulders with jewelled clasps, was of a rarer and more costly material than even the robe of the queen; the diadem, necklace,

ss Rhedern, with a slight inclination of the head only, while

er, who had so warmly advocated the reception of Countess Rhedern at court, now receive her so coldly; and wishing to jest wit

is beautiful countess to court; she will

ring of the countess as disrespectful to herself; and fixing her proud and scornful glances upon

onnected with several mercantile houses in Holland, and from one of these

, over which she should have drawn a veil, but she dared in this brilliant company, in the presence of two queens, to speak

onvenient and ingenious mode of advertising your father's goods; and hereafter when w

uel jest. The eyes of all were scornfully fixed upon the countess, whose husband stood at her sid

oice, "for daring to contradict you, but my father's bu

does he deal?" said

ctfully, "my father's dealings are characterize

ghter had dared to justify herself before th

event this outbreak. It wounded his noble and generous soul to see a poor, defenceless woman tormented in this manner. He was too noble-minded to take offence at the quiet and composed bearing of t

d generosity. Well, it seems to me that Countess Rhedern has inherited these noble qualities. My dear countess, I

eautiful; "and will your majesty have the kindness, at some future time," said she, taking her husband's arm, "to convince yourself that the

the king an invitation. She had committed a breach of etiquette which could only be accounted for by t

hat kindliness of manner which was peculiar to himself: "I will tak

er, she was guilty of the same fault which the countess had committed through ignorance. Forgetful of etiquette, she as

dancers. Do you not find the music ve

is another happy man who longs to bask in the sunshine of your countenance.

ooks which she had been in the habit of directing toward Frederick Wil

o!" murmured she, sinking back on her seat. She barely heard Count Neal's introduction. She a

to be in a conciliatory mo

at we will probably never see. He has been in the lovely, luxurious, and

the count, proudly; "I was not

nd what are the preroga

f Surinam is approached with the same submission, humility, a

otten to provide a seat for my brother, the King of Surinam. You must be indulgent this time, my dear brother, but at the n

Prince Augustus William to follow him with t

iquette for a short time and mingle with the dancers." And without awaiting an answer, the king bow

mple. The prince, and even the reigning

held her train, were the only persons who remained. Sophia Dorothea heaved a deep sigh; she felt that she was no longer a queen, but a poor wi

g; you should have brought some of the lads from your father's store to ca

I need a train-bearer. I suggest that some of my father's principal debtors should fill this place. I believe these gentlemen would willingly carry my train if my father would grant them

iet and composed countess, and then walked quietly toward t