avorite. The
Landhofmeisterin, deprived of the company of the man she had loved during
so many years, deprived of her accustomed occupation of governing a
country, used to the homage of courtiers and the blandishments of
parasites, sank into profound dejection.

After some two weeks the Landhofmeisterin heard the thud of a cantering
horse's hoofs nearing La Favorite. A wild hope sprang up in her heart: it
was Eberhard Ludwig, of course; he had repented of his harshness, and was
coming to lead her back in loving triumph to Ludwigsburg.

The lackey announced that his Highness the Erbprinz awaited her
Excellency in the ballroom. Ah! not Serenissimus then; but he had sent
his son to tell her the good news.

'Quick, Maria, a dash of rouge, a little powder. Is my hair becomingly
dressed? Give me my fan--yes! a rose at my bosom. How do I look?' And the
Graevenitz sallied down to meet her beloved's son.

This was indeed a triumph. The Erbprinz had never visited her at Favorite
or Freudenthal. Everything was coming right, of course--she had known it
would!

'Good morning, Prince Friedrich, it is a great joy to me to see you. Are
you well? you look in good health.' It was a very smiling, beautiful
woman who spoke. Magnificent--a trifle over-mature perchance; but a
full-blown rose is a fine thing, though some prefer the rosebud.

'I thank your Excellency; I am well, but I come on an unpleasant
mission--I regret----'

'Serenissimus is not ill, Monseigneur?' she cried.

'No, Madame; my father is in the enjoyment of health, but--but--O Madame!
believe me, I am loth to be the bearer of such evil tidings to you, for
you have always been my friend.'

'Prince Friedrich, if I have been your friend, spare me now; tell me
without hesitation what your mission is. Alas! I am indeed a stricken
woman.'

In truth, her face was tragic. All the more terrible was this menace to
one who had dared to build such a structure of hopefulness upon so
slender a basis.

'Madame, my father bids me give you this letter. If you do not obey
immediately, I am to enforce these commands. I pray you spare me that,
dear, dear Madame!' He took her hand in his and kissed it; he was a very
tender-hearted, an easily subjugated little grand seigneur.

'Madame la Comtesse de Wuerben, Comtesse de Graevenitz, Landhofmeisterin de
Wirtemberg.--In view of a great change impending in my dukedom, I command
you to depart instantly from my court of Ludwigsburg. You