fore　the　beginning　of　their　merry　sports。　Hours　passed　before　the　princely　pair　joined　their　guests　in　the　music…saloon。
  The　sun　of　royalty　came　at　last；　shedding　light　and　gladness。　Never　had　the　princess　looked　more　beautifulmore　rosy。　She　seemed；　indeed；　to　blush　at　the　consciousness　of　her　own　attractions。　Never　had　Prince　Henry　appeared　so　happy；　so　triumphant；　as　to…day。　His　flashing　eyes　seemed　to　challenge　the　whole　world　to　compete　with　his　happiness；　joy　and　hope　danced　in　his　eyes；　never　had　he　given　so　gracious；　so　kindly　a　greeting　to　every　guest；　as　to…day。
  The　whole　assembly　was　bright　and　animated　and　gave　themselves　up　heartily　to　the　beautiful　idyl　for　which　they　had　met　together　under　the　shadow　of　the　noble　trees　in　the　fragrant　woods　of　Rheinsberg。　No　gayer；　lovelier　shepherds　and　shepherdesses　were　ever　seen　in　Arcadia；　than　those　of　Rheinsberg　to…day。　They　laughed；　and　jested；　and　performed　little　comedies；　and　rejoiced　in　the　innocent　sports　of　the　happy　moment。　Here　wandered　a　shepherd　and　his　shepherdess；　chatting　merrily；　there；　under　the　shadow　of　a　mighty　oak；　lay　a　forlorn　shepherd　singing；　accompanied　by　his　zitter；　a　love…lorn　ditty　to　his　cruel　shepherdess；　who　was　leading　two　white　lambs　decked　with　ribbons；　in　a　meadow　near　by；　and　replied　to　his　tender　pleading　with　mocking　irony。　Upon　the　little　lake；　in　the　neighborhood　of　which　they　had　assembled；　the　snow…white　swans　swam　majestically　to　and　fro。　The　lovely　shepherdesses　stood　upon　the　borders　and　enticed　the　swans　around　them；　and　laughed　derisively　at　the　shepherds　who　had　embarked　in　the　little　boats；　and　were　now　driven　sportively　back　in　every　direction；　and　could　find　no　place　to　land。
  Prince　Henry　loved　this　sort　of　fete；　and　often　gave　such　at　Rheinsberg；　but　never　had　he　seemed　to　enjoy　himself　so　thoroughly　as　to…day。　His　guests　generally　sympathized　in　his　happiness；　but　there　was　one　who　looked　upon　his　joyous　face　with　bitterness。　This　was　Louise　du　Trouffle；　once　Louise　von　Kleist；　once　the　beloved　of　the　prince。
  She　was　married；　and　her　handsome；　amiable；　and　intelligent　husband　was　ever　by　her　side；　but　the　old　wounds　still　burned；　and　her　pride　bled　at　the　contempt　of　the　prince。　She　knew　he　was　ignorant　of　the　great　sacrifice　she　had　been　forced　to　makethat　he　despised；　in　place　of　admiring　and　pitying　her。
  The　prince；　in　order　to　show　his　utter　indifference；　had　invited　her　husband　and　herself　to　court。　In　the　pride　of　his　sick　and　wounded　heart；　he　resolved　to　convince　the　world　that　the　beautiful　Louise　von　Kleist　had　not　scorned　and　rejected　his　love。　In　her　presence　he　resolved　to　show　his　young　wife　the　most　lover…like　attentions；　and　prove　to　his　false　mistress　that　he　neither　sought　nor　fled　from　herthat　he　had　utterly　forgotten　her。
  But　Louise　was　not　deceived　by　this　acting。　She　understood　him　thoroughly；　and　knew　better　than　the　prince　himself；　that　his　indifference　was　assumed；　and　his　contempt　and　scorn　was　a　veil　thrown　over　his　betrayed　and　quivering　heart　to　conceal　his　sufferings　from　her。　Louise　had　the　courage　to　accept　Prince　Henry's　invitations；　and　to　take　part　in　all　the　festivities　with　which　he　ostentatiously　celebrated　his　happiness。　She　had　the　courage　to　receive　his　cutting　coldness；　his　cruel　sarcasm；　his　contempt；　with　calm　composure　and　sweet　submission。　With　the　smile　of　a　stoic；　she　offered　her　defenceless　breast　to　his　poisoned　arrows；　and　even　the　tortures　she　endured　were　precious　in　her　sight。　She　was　convinced　that　the　prince　had　not　relinquished　or　forgotten　herthat　his　indifference　and　contempt　was　assumed　to　hide　his　living；　breathing　love。　For　some　time　past　the　change　in　the　manners　and　bearing　of　the　prince　had　not　escaped　the　sharp；　searching　glance　of　the　experienced　coquette。　For　a　long　time　he　appeared　not　to　see　her　now　she　felt　that　he　did　not　see　her。　He　had　been　wont　to　say　the　most　indifferent　things　to　her　in　a　fierce；　excited　tonenow　he　was　self…possessed；　and　spoke　to　her　softly　and　kindly。
  〃The　wound　has　healed；〃　said　Louise　du　Trouffle　to　herself。　〃He　no　longer　scorns　because　he　no　longer　loves　me。〃　But　she　did　not　know　that　he　had　not　only　ceased　to　love　her；　but　loved　another　passionately。　This　suspicion　was　excited；　however；　for　the　first　time　to…day。　In　the　flashing　eye；　the　glad　smile；　the　proud　glance　which　he　fixed　upon　his　fair　young　wife；　Louise　discovered　that　Henry　had　buried　the　old　love　and　a　new　one　had　risen　from　its　ashes。　This　knowledge　tortured　her　heart　in　a　wild　storm　of　jealousy。　She　forgot　all　considerations　of　prudence；　all　fear；　even　of　the　king。　She　had　been　compelled　to　relinquish　the　hand　of　the　prince；　but　she　would　not　lose　him　wholly。　Perhaps　he　would　return　to　her　when　he　knew　what　a　fearful　offering　she　had　made　to　him。　He　would　recognize　her　innocence；　and　mourn　over　the　tortures　he　had　inflicted　during　the　last　year。　She　would　try　this！　She　would　play　her　last　trump；　and　dare　all　with　the　hope　of　winning。
  There　stood　the　prince　under　the　shadow　of　a　large　tree；　gazing　dreamily　at　his　wife；　who；　with　other　shepherdesses；　and　her　shepherd；　Count　Kalkreuth；　was　feeding　the　swans　on　the　border　of　the　lake。　The　prince　was　alone；　and　Louise　rashly　resolved　to　approach　him。　He　greeted　her　with　a　slight　nod；　and　turning　his　eyes　again　upon　his　wife；　he　said；　carelessly；　〃Are　you　also　here；　Madame　du　Trouffle？〃
  〃Your　royal　highness　did　me　the　honor　to　invite　meI　am　accustomed　to　obey　your　wishes；　and　I　am　here。〃
  〃That　is　kind；〃　said　the　prince；　abstractedly；　still　glancing　at　the　princess。
  Louise　sighed　deeply；　and　stepping　nearer；　she　said；　〃Are　you　still　angry　with　me；　my　prince？　Have　you　never　forgiven　me？〃
  〃What？〃　said　the　prince；　quietly；　〃I　do　not　remember　that　I　have　any　thing　to　forgive。〃
  〃Ah；　I　see！　you　despise　me　still；〃　said　Louise；　excitedly；　〃but　I　will　bear　this　no　longer！　I　will　no　longer　creep　about　like　a　culprit；　burdened　with　your　curse　and　your　scorn。　You　shall　at　least　know　what　it　cost　me　to　earn　your　contemptwhat　a　tearful　sacrifice　I　was　compelled　to　make　to　secure　your　supposed　personal　happiness。　I　gave　up　for　you　the　happiness　of　my　life；　but　I　can　and　will　no　longer　fill　a　place　of　shame　in　your　memory。　If；　from　time　to　time；　your　highness　thinks　of　me；　you　shall　do　me　justice！〃
  〃I　think　no　longer　of　you　in　anger；〃　said　the　prince；　smiling。　〃That　sorrow　has　long　since　passed　away。〃
  〃From　your　heart；　prince；　but　not　from　mine！　My　heart　bleeds；　and　will　bleed　eternally！　You　must　not　only　forgiveyou　must　do　me　justice。　Listen；　then：　and　so　truly　as　there　is　a　God　above　us；　I　will　speak　the　truth。　I　did　not　betray　youI　was　not　faithless。　My　heart　and　my　soul　I　laid　gladly　at　your　feet；　and　thanked　God　for　the　fulness　of　my　happiness。　My　thoughts；　my　existence；　my　future；　was　chained　to　you。　I　had　no　other　will；　no　other　wish；　no　other　hope。　I　was　your　slaveI　wanted　nothing　but　your　love。〃
  〃Ah；　and　then　came　this　Monsieur　du　Trouffle；　and　broke　your　fettersgave　your　heart　liberty　and　wings　for　a　new　flight；〃　said　Prince　Henry。
  〃No；　then　came　the　king　and　commanded　me　to　give　you　up；〃　murmured　Louise；　〃then　came　the　king；　and　forced　me　to　offer　up　myself　and　my　great　love　to　your　future　welfare。　Oh；　my　prince！　recall　that　terrible　hour　in　which　we　separated。　I　said　to　you　that　I　had　betrothed　myself　to　Captain　du　Troufflethat　of　my　own　free　choice；　and　influenced　by　love　alone；　I　gave　myself　to　him。〃
  〃I　remember　that　hour。〃
  〃Well；　then；　in　that　hour　we　were　not　alone。　The　king　was　concealed　behind　the　portiere；　and　listened　to　my　words。　He　dictated　them！he　threatened　me　with　destruction　if　I　betrayed　his　presence　by　look　or　word；　if　I　gave　you　reason　to　suspect　that　I　did　not；　of　my　own　choice　and　lovingly；　give　myself　to　this　unloved；　yes；　this　hated　man！　I　yielded　only　after　the　most　fearful　contest　with　the　king；　to　whom；　upon　my　knees　and　bathed　in　tears；　I　pleaded　for　pity。〃
  〃What　means　could　the　king　use；　what　threats　could　he　utter；　which　forced　you　to　such　a　step？〃　said　the　prince；　incredulously。　〃Did　he　threaten　you　with　death　if　you　did　not　obey？　When　one　truly　loves；　death　has　no　terrors！　Did　he　say　he　would　murder　me　if　you　did　not　release　me？　You　knew　I　had　a　strong　arm　and　a　stronger　will；　you　should　have　trusted　both。　You　placed　your　fate　in　my　hands；　you　should　have　obeyed　no　other　commands　than　mine。　And　now　shall　I　speak　the　whole　truth？　I　do　not　believe　in　this　sacrifice　on　your　part；　it　would　have　required　more　than　mortal　strength；　and　it　would　have　been　cruel　in　the　extreme。　You　saw　what　I　suffered。　My　heart　was　torn　with　anguish！　No；　madame；　no；　you　did　not　make　this　sacrifice；　or；　if　you　did；　you　loved　me　not。　If　you　had　loved　me；　you　could　not　have　seen　me　suffer　so　cruelly；　you　would　have　told　the　truth；　even　in　the　presence　of　the　king。　No　earthly　power　can　control　true　love；　she　is　self…sustained　and　makes　her　own　laws。　No！　no！　I　do　not　believe　in　this　offering；　and　you　make　this　excuse　either　to　heal　my　sick　heart；　or　because　your　pride　is　mortified　at　my　want　of　consideration；　you　wish　to　recover　my　good　opinion。〃
  〃Alas！　alas！　he　does　not　believe　me；〃　cried　Louise。
  〃No；　I　do　not　believe　you；〃　said　the　prince；　kindly；　〃and　yet　you　must