Frederick the Great and His Fam

d uninterrupted in Rheinsberg. It seemed that Prince Henry had no other thought, no other desire than to prepare new pleasures, new amusements for

persons in Berlin, all those who had any claim to youth, beauty, a

they wished to bid farewell to Nature. The nymphs of the wood and the spring, the hamadryads of the forests, the fauns and satyrs should reign once more in the woods before they placed the sceptre in the hands of winter. The guests

ded once more in the wood, through which the enchanting huntress passed, accompanied by Endymion, who was pursued by Actaeon. There was Apollo and the charming Daph

to rest and refresh themselves by a sail upon the dancing waves. For the hunters and huntresses targets were placed upon the trees; all kinds of fire-arms and cross-bows and arrows lay near them. Scattered throughout the forest, were a number of small huts, entirely covered with the bark of trees, and looking like a mass of fallen wood, but comfortably and even elegantly arranged in the interior. Every one of these huts was numbered, and at the beginning of the fete every lady had drawn a number from an urn, which was to designate the hut which belonged to her. Chance alone had decided, and each one had given her word not to betray the number of her cabin. From this arose a seeking and spying, a following and listening, which gave a peculiar charm to the fete. Every nymph or godde

train, and the singing of sweet songs. And still on how many faces the smile was assumed, how many sighs arose, with how many cares and sorrows were many of these apparently happy creatures weighed down? Even the no

s; then seeing that no one is near, she hastens forward toward the hut, which stands amidst those bushes. The ivy wreath is hanging before this cabin, but

ently; "at length you grant me the happiness of a private interview. Oh, it is an eternity since I beheld you. You are ver

how much cunning and deftness have I been compelled to exercise to come here now. It was a detestable idea of the princess to give me the role of Diana, for I have behind me a band o

e a lover concealed in th

t horrible argus who guards me with his thousand eyes and never leaves my side. It was from pure m

caping the watchfulness of

st was representing with much humor. I wanted to speak with you, for I have so much to relate to you. I must open to you my broken, my un

to his lips. "Count upon me as upon your faithful slave, who

e I was daily expecting the birth of my child, and the little creature was so sensible as not to enter the world until after the departure of its honored father, who, before leaving, had delivered me a lect

ath?" interrupted Ki

, and told him that you should never be allowed to visit me. And to place the crown upon his jealousy, he betrayed the secret of his suspicions

rous?" said Kindar,

if I did not care so much for you, I should really

her hand with burning kis

hdrew her hand. "My husband has been, as I said, in Copenhagen for eight weeks, and

ian!" murmu

d a letter from my husband, in which he no longer entreats me, but dares, as he himsel

ink that his wife must obey him as a slave? Ah, Camilla, you owe it to yourself to s

how him that?"

r of your departure would be the hour of my death. You know it, for you have long known that I love you

ompense consist?" asked Cam

usband that you will leave Berlin on no account-that your honor demands that you should prove to him in the face of his brutal comma

ite this let

to open your door to me in spite of the orders of

e rest will arrange i

. May I bring it to you m

u then be so kind as

I will only give the let

or to you in spite of my husband and my stepfather, and in th

ns closed against me, Camilla? Ah, you laugh-you mock at my sufferin

ses-I must hasten to them, or they will surround this cabin and they might enter. Farewell. To-morrow I will

little romance, but it will terminate in a divorce, and not in a marriage. I have no idea of following up thi

the pure air of this forest. None suspected it less than Prince Henry himself. He was happy and content that this fete had succeeded so well-that this bright autumn day had come opportunely to his aid. The sun penetrated to his heart and made it warm and joyous. H

and expects me to seek her. Now, then, may fortune assist me to discover my beloved. I must find her if only to prove to her that my love can overcome all difficulties an

only that I might find happiness at the end of my path." He saw the last hut in the distance. It nestled in the midst of low bushes, looking quiet and undisturbed, and on the door hung the ivy wreath. The heart of the prince beat with joy, and he murmured, "She is there-I have found her," as he hastened toward the hut. "No," he said, "I dare not surprise her. I must consider the law s

he sound of the hunter's horn, whilst the great trees rustled their leaves as though they wished to mingle their notes in the universal anthem. The prince gavo himself up for a long time to the

her, as if he would repress a cry of agony, or an execration? And why does he listen now with bated breath, his gaze fixed upon the hut, and both hands raised, as if to threaten an approaching enemy? Suddenly he sprang up, and rushed trembling to the door, and, while in the act of bursting it open, he fell back, pale as death, as if his foot had trodden upon a poisonous serpen

of the hut before my eyes. A voice within whispered, 'Fly, or you will be a murderer!' I obeyed

to fall upon his prey. His hand involu

id, gnashing his teeth, "I mu

ore him, but it no longer smiled at him; it filled him with horror and fury. Now he has reached it, and with one blow he bursts open th

his time they have escaped punis