or　her　love；　but　she　had　never　openly　confessed　this　love；　and　even　in　her　wildest　dreams　she　had　never　thought　of　changing　her　noble　name　and　position　for　those　of　her　lover。　She　could　have　fled　with　him　to　some　distant　valley；　but　would　she　be　happy？　Would　she　not　regret　her　former　life？　Princess　Wilhelmina　felt　the　dissension　in　her　soul；　and　therefore　she　trembled　at　the　thought　of　her　husband's　return。　This　meeting　would　decide　her　whole　future。　Perhaps　she　could　still　be　saved。　The　prince；　returning　covered　with　fame　and　crowned　with　laurels；　might　now　win　her　love；　and　drive　from　her　heart　every　other　thought。　But　if　he　cannot　win　itif　his　return　is　not　sufficient　to　loosen　the　chains　which　bind　herthen　she　was　lostthen　she　could　not　resist　the　intoxicating　whispers　luring　her　to　ruin。
  These　were　Princess　Wilhelmina's　thoughts　as　she　leaned　against　a　window　of　the　brilliant　ball…room；　the　protection　of　whose　heavy　curtains　she　had　sought　to　drive　for　a　moment　from　her　face　the　gay　smile　and　to　breathe　out　the　sighs　that　were　almost　rending　her　heart。　She　was　gazing　at　the　dark　night　withoutat　the　bright；　starry　sky　above。　Her　lips　moved　in　a　low　prayerher　timid　soul　turned　to　God　with　its　fears。
  〃O　God；　my　God！〃　murmured　she；　〃stand　by　me。　Take　from　me　the　sinful　thoughts　that　fill　my　heart。　Make　me　to　love　my　husband。　Keep　my　soul　free　from　shame　and　sin。〃
  Hasty　steps；　loud；　merry　voices　from　the　hall；　disturbed　her　dreams。　She　left　her　retreat；　meeting　everywhere　gay　smiles　and　joyous　faces。　At　the　door　stood　the　prince　her　husband。　He　advanced　eagerly　to　her　side；　and　ignoring　etiquette　and　the　gay　assemblage　alike　he　pressed　the　princess　to　his　heart　and　kissed　her　on　both　cheeks。
  Wilhelmina　drew　from　him　in　deadly　terror；　and　a　burning　anger　filled　her　heart。　Had　she　loved　the　prince；　this　public　demonstration　of　his　tenderness　would　perhaps　have　pleased　and　surely　been　forgiven　by　her。　As　it　was；　she　took　his　embrace　and　kisses　as　an　insult；　which　was　only　to　be　endured　by　compulsionfor　which　she　would　surely　revenge　herself。
  Prince　Henry　was　so　joyous；　so　happy　at　meeting　his　wife　once　more；　that　he　did　not　notice　her　embarrassed　silence；　her　stiff　haughtiness；　and　thought　she　shared　his　joy；　his　delight。
  This　confidence　seemed　to　the　princess　presumptuous　and　humiliating。　She　confessed　to　herself　that　the　prince's　manners　were　not　in　the　least　improved　by　hia　long　campaignthat　they　were　somewhat　brusque。　He　took　her　hand　tenderly；　leading　her　to　a　divan；　and　seated　himself　beside　her；　but　suddenly　jumping　up　he　left　her；　and　returned　in　a　few　moments　with　his　friend　Count　Kalkreuth。
  〃Permit　me；　Wilhelmina；〃　said　he；　〃to　introduce　to　you　again　my　dear　friend　and　companion　in　arms。　Men　say　I　have　won　some　fame；　but　I　assure　you　that　if　it　is　true；　Kalkreuth　deserves　the　largest　share；　for　he　was　the　gardener　who　tended　my　laurels　with　wise　and　prudent　hands。　I　commend　him；　therefore；　to　your　kindness　and　friendship；　Wilhelmina；　and　beg　you　to　evince　for　him　a　part　of　that　affection　you　owe　to　me；　and　which　causes　my　happiness。〃
  There　was　something　so　noble；　so　open；　and　knightly　in　the　prince's　manner；　that　Count　Kalkreuth；　deeply　touched；　thought　in　his　heart　for　a　moment　that　he　would　not　deceive　this　noblo　friend　with　treachery　and　faithlessness。
  The　prince's　words　had　a　different　effect　upon　the　princess。　Instead　of　being　touched　by　his　great　confidence　in　her；　she　was　insulted。　It　indicated　great　arrogance　and　self…conceit　to　be　so　sure　of　her　love　as　to　see　no　danger；　but　to　bring　his　friend　to　her　and　commend　him　to　her　kindness。　It　humiliated　her　for　the　prince　to　speak　with　such　confidence　of　her　affection　as　of　a　thing　impossible　to　lose。　She　determined；　therefore；　to　punish　him。　With　a　bright　smile；　she　held　out　her　hand　to　the　count；　and　said　to　him　a　few　kind　words　of　welcome。　How　she　had　trembled　at　the　thought　of　this　meetinghow　she　had　blushed　at　the　thought　of　standing　beside　the　count　with　the　conviction　that　not　one　of　her　words　was　forgottenthat　the　confession　of　love　she　had　made　to　the　departing　soldier　belonged　now　to　the　returned　nobleman！　But　her　husband's　confidence　had　shorn　the　meeting　of　all　its　terror；　and　made　the　road　she　had　to　travel　easy。
  The　count　bowed　deeply　before　her　and　pressed　her　hand　to　his　lips。　She　returned　the　pressure　of　his　hand；　and；　as　he　raised　his　head　and　fixed　an　almost　imploring　glance　upon　her；　he　encountered　her　eyes　beaming　with　unutterable　love。
  The　court　assembly　stood　in　groups；　looking　with　cold；　inquisitive　eyes　at　the　piquant　scene　the　prince　in　the　innocence　of　his　heart　had　prepared　for　themwhich　was　to　them　an　inimitable　jest；　an　excellent　amusement。　They　all　knewwhat　the　prince　did　not　for　a　moment　suspectthat　Count　Kalkreuth　adored　the　princess。　They　now　desired　to　see　if　this　love　was　returned　by　the　princess；　or　suffered　by　her　as　a　coquette。
  None　had　gazed　at　this　scene　with　such　breathless　sympathy；　such　cruel　joy；　as　Madame　du　Trouffle。　Being　one　of　the　usual　circle　at　Rheinsberg；　she　had　been　invited　by　the　princess　to　the　present　fete；　and　it　seemed　to　her　very　amusing　to　receive　her　own　husband；　not　at　their　home；　but　at　the　castle　of　her　former　lover。　Major　du　Trouffle　was　on　the　prince's　staff；　and　had　accompanied　him　to　Rheinsberg。
  Louise　had　not　as　yet　found　time　to　greet　her　husband。　Her　glance　was　fixed　eagerly　upon　the　princess；　she　noticed　her　every　movement；　her　every　look；　she　watched　every　smile；　every　quiver　of　her　lip。　Her　husband　stood　at　her　sidehe　had　been　there　for　some　time；　greeting　her　in　low；　tender　wordsbut　Louise　did　not　attend　to　him。　She　seemed　not　to　see　him；　her　whole　soul　was　in　her　eyes；　and　they　were　occupied　with　the　princess。　Suddenly　she　turns　her　sparkling　eyes　upon　her　husband　and　murmurs。　〃He　is　lost！　His　laurels　will　be　insufficient　to　cover　the　brand　which　from　to…day　on　will　glow　upon　his　brow！〃　Her　husband　looked　at　her　in　amazement。
  〃Is　this　your　welcome；　after　seven　long　years　of　absence；　Louise？〃　said　he；　sadly。
  She　laid　her　hand　hastily　upon　his　arm；　saying；　〃Hush；　hush！〃　Once　more　she　gazed　at　the　princess；　who　was　talking　and　laughing　gayly　with　her　husband　and　Count　Kalkreuth。　〃How　her　cheeks　glow；　and　what　tender　glances　she　throws　him！〃　murmured　Louise。　〃Ah！　the　prince　has　fallen　a　victim　to　his　ingenuousness！　Verily；　he　is　again　praising　the　merits　of　his　friend。　He　tells　her　how　Kalkreuth　saved　his　life…　…how　he　received　the　blow　meant　for　his　own　head。　Poor　prince！　You　will　pay　dearly　for　the　wound　Kalkreuth　received　for　you。　I　said；　and　I　repeat　ithe　is　lost！〃
  Her　husband　looked　at　her　as　if　he　feared　she　had　gone　mad　during　his　absence。　〃Of　whom　do　you　speak；　Louise？〃　whispered　he。　〃What　do　you　mean？　Will　you　not　speak　one　word　of　welcome　to　me　to　convince　me　that　you　know　methat　I　have　not　become　a　stranger　to　you？〃　The　princess　now　arose　from　her　seat；　and　leaning　on　her　husband's　arm　she　passed　through　the　room；　talking　merrily　with　Count　Kalkreuth　at　her　side。　〃They　have　gone　to　the　conservatory；〃　said　Louise；　grasping　her　husband's　arm。　〃We　will　also　go　and　find　some　quiet；　deserted　place　where　we　can　talk　undisturbed。〃
  CHAPTER　III。
  MOTHER　AND　DAUGHTER。
  Louise　du　Trouffle　drew　her　husband　onward；　and　they　both　followed　silently　the　great　crowd　which　was　now　entering　the　splendidly　illuminated　conservatories。　The　view　offered　to　the　eye　was　superb。　You　seemed　to　be　suddenly　transplanted　as　if　by　magic　from　the　stiff；　ceremonious　court…saloons　into　the　fresh；　fragrant；　blooming　world　of　nature。　You　breathed　with　rapture　the　odor　of　those　rare　and　lovely　flowers　which　were　arranged　in　picturesque　order　between　the　evergreen　myrtles　and　oranges。　The　windows；　and　indeed　the　ceiling　were　entirely　covered　with　vines；　and　seemed　to　give　color　to　the　illusion　that　you　were　really　walking　in　an　open　alley。　Colored　Chinese　balloons　attached　to　fine　chains；　fell　from　the　ceiling；　and　seemed　to　float　like　gay　butterflies　between　the　trees　and　flowers。　They　threw　their　soft；　faint；　many…colored　lights　through　these　enchanting　halls；　on　each　side　of　which　little　grottoes　had　been　formed　by　twining　together　myrtles；　palms；　and　fragrant　bushes。　Each　one　of　these　held　a　little　grass…plot；　or　green　divan；　and　these　were　so　arranged　that　the　branches　of　the　palms　were　bent　down　over　the　seats；　and　concealed　those　who　rested　there　behind　a　leafy　screen。
  To　one　of　these　grottoes　Louise　now　led　her　husband。　〃We　will　rest　here　awhile；〃　said　she。　〃This　grotto　has　one　advantageit　lies　at　the　corner　of　the　wall　and　has　but　one　open　side；　and　leafy　bushes　are　thickly　grouped　about　it。　We　have　no　listeners　to　fear；　and　may　chat　together　frankly　and　harmlessly。　And　now；　first　of　all；　welcome；　my　husbandwelcome　to　your　home！〃
  〃God　be　thanked；　LouiseGod　be　thanked　that　you　have　at　last　known　how　to　speak　one　earnest　word；　and　welcome　me　to　your　side！　Believe　me；　when　I　say　that　through　all　these　weary　years；　each　day　I　have　rejoiced　at　the　thought　of　this　moment。　It　has　been　my　refreshment　and　my　consolation。　I　truly　believe　that　the　thought　of　you　and　my　ardent　desire　to　see　you　was　a　talisman　which　kept　death　afar　off。　It　seemed　to　me　impossible　to　di