ur Custrin life? Still as much aversion to
Wusterhausen, and to wearing your shroud [STERBEKITTEL, name for the
tight uniform you would now be so glad of, and think quite other than a
shroud!] as you called it?" Prince's answer wanting.--"Likely enough my
company does not suit you: I have no French manners, and cannot bring
out BON-MOTS in the PETIT-MAITRE way; and truly regard all that as a
thing to be flung to the dogs. I am a German Prince, and mean to live
and die in that character. But you can now say what you have got by your
caprices and obstinate heart; hating everything that I liked; and if I
distinguished any one, despising him! If an Officer was put in arrest,
you took to lamenting about him. Your real friends, who intended
your good, you hated and calumniated; those that flattered you, and
encouraged your bad purpose, you caressed. You see what that has come
to. In Berlin, in all Prussia for some time back, nobody asks after you,
Whether you are in the world or not; and were it not one or the other
coming from Custrin who reports you as playing tennis and wearing French
hair-bags, nobody would know whether you were alive or dead."

Hard sayings; to which the Prince's answers (if there were any beyond
mournful gestures) are not given. We come now upon Predestination, or
the GNADENWAHL; and learn (with real interest, not of the laughing
sort alone) how his "Majesty, in the most conclusive way, set forth the
horrible results of that Absolute-Decree notion; which makes out God
to be the Author of Sin, and that Jesus Christ died only for some! Upon
which the Crown-Prince vowed and declared (HOCH UND THEUER), he was now
wholly of his Majesty's orthodox opinion."

The King, now thoroughly moved, expresses satisfaction at the orthodoxy;
and adds with enthusiasm, "When godless fellows about you speak against
your duties to God, the King and your Country, fall instantly on your
knees, and pray with your whole soul to Jesus Christ to deliver you from
such wickedness, and lead you on better ways. And if it come in earnest
from your heart, Jesus, who would have all men saved, will not leave you
unheard." No! And so may God in his mercy aid you, poor son Fritz. And
as for me, in hopes the time coming will show fruits, I forgive you what
is past.--To which the Crown-Prince answered with monosyllables, with
many tears; "kissing his Majesty's feet;"--and as the King's eyes were
not dry, he withdrew into another room; revolvi