ried to fix his attention upon the burning candles
and glittering toys on the tree. But the boy pushed her from him; he
wanted to hear the lovely lady's stories; they were much finer than any
his mother ever told him, he said. Johanna Elizabetha could stay and
listen too, if she liked, but she must not interrupt, he commanded. He
struggled from his mother's encircling arm and, drawing near the
favourite, he leaned his head against her, nestling close. Wilhelmine,
really touched by the child's confiding ways, bent down to him and
slipped her arm round his shoulders.

At this moment the Duchess-mother turning, saw the unexpected sight of
her grandson in the embrace of the Graevenitz. She looked at them with
stern disapproval. The Erbprinz lifted his hand and stroked Wilhelmine's
face. This was too much for Johanna Elizabetha. She sprang forward like a
tigress defending her young, and snatched the boy away from Wilhelmine.
Immediately the delicate, over-excitable child set up a wailing cry; he
wanted to stay with the lovely lady who told such diverting stories, he
said. Johanna Elizabetha in vain endeavoured to soothe him. Now the
Duchess-mother bore down on the group and commenced rating the child for
his disobedience. Johanna Elizabetha, emboldened by the old lady's
approach, turned fiercely upon Wilhelmine.

'You have frightened my boy with your horrible stories!' she cried, and
dragged the wailing Erbprinz towards the door; but he resisted manfully,
crying that he would stay with the lovely lady. His granddame caught him,
and bestowed a ringing box on his ear. The child raised a very tempest of
sobs, and flinging off his mother's arm, fled howling towards Wilhelmine.
Johanna Elizabetha, beyond herself with anger and disgust, horrified at
the notion of the child being brought into contact with the woman she
regarded as debased, rushed forward and, pulling the child violently
away, she cried wildly--

'Do not touch her; it is not fitting!'

Eberhard Ludwig, who had been conscientiously conversing with the few
guests, hurried up.

'What is this?' he asked angrily. 'Madame, why does your son howl like a
beggar's brat?'

The Duchess-mother came forward. 'A sorry spectacle, indeed,' she said
grimly. 'The Landhofmeisterin, not being used to children, has frightened
the Erbprinz.'

'Monseigneur,' broke in Wilhelmine, white to the lips, 'I crave
permission to depart at once. I am not well.'

'Not well, Madame?' cried