he morning;--in dread, too, of Papa's rough jests,--and
wretched enough. She had begged much, last night! to be excused from
the review. But that could not be: "I must go," said the Queen after
reflection, "and you with me." Which they did;--and diversified the pomp
and circumstance of mock-war by a small unexpected scene.

Queen, Princess and the proper Dames had, by his Majesty's order, to
pass before the line: Princess in much trouble, "with three caps huddled
on me, to conceal myself," poor soul. Margraf of Schwedt, at the head
of his regiment, "looked swollen with rage," high hopes gone in this
manner;--and saluted us with eyes turned away. As for his Mother, the
Dessau Margravine in high colors, she was "blue in the face" all day.
Lines passed, and salutations done, her Majesty and Dames withdrew to
the safe distance, to look on:--Such a show, for pomp and circumstance,
Wilhelmina owns, as could not be equalled in the world. Such wheeling,
rhythmic coalescing and unfolding; accurate as clock-work, far and wide;
swift big column here, hitting swift big column there, at the appointed
place and moment; with their volleyings and trumpeting, bright uniforms
and streamers and field-music,--in equipment and manoeuvre perfect all,
to the meanest drummer or black kettle-drummer:--supreme drill-sergeant
playing on the thing, as on his huge piano, several square miles in
area! Comes of the Old Dessauer, all this; of the "equal step;" of
the abstruse meditations upon tactics, in that rough head of his. Very
pretty indeed.--But in the mean while an Official steps up: cap in hand,
approaches the Queen's carriage; says, He is ordered to introduce
his Highness the Prince of Baireuth. Prince comes up accordingly; a
personable young fellow; intelligent-looking, self-possessed; makes
obeisance to her Majesty, who answers in frosty politeness; and--and
Wilhelmina, faint, fasting, sleepless all night, fairly falls aswoon.
Could not be helped: and the whole world saw it; and Guy Dickens and
the Diplomatists wrote home about it, and there rose rumor and gossip
enough! [Dickens, of 2d June, 1731 (in pathetic terms); Wilhelmina, i.
341 (without pathos).] But that was the naked truth of it: hot weather,
agitation, want of sleep, want of food; not aversion to the Hereditary
Prince, nothing of that. Rather the contrary, indeed; and, on better
acquaintance, much the contrary. For he proved a very rational,
honorable and eligible young Prince: