"

"But while praying you wept, Louisa?" asked the king. "I hoped that the
days of tears were past, and that my Louisa would become again as merry
and light-hearted as she used to be. Do you not like to return to
Berlin?"

The queen looked down musingly. "I cannot tell you," she said,
thoughtfully. "When I think that I shall soon be in Berlin, and meet
again the faithful people, my heart is joyful, and then again I shed
many tears when I consider that, while I may find every thing there as
formerly, there may in reality be sad changes, and I do not know how I
may be affected. Dismal forebodings are troubling me; I should like best
to sit always alone, behind my little lamp, and indulge in my
reflections. I am longing for Berlin, and yet I am almost afraid to go
there."

"What are you afraid of?" asked the king, pressing his wife tenderly
against his breast.

"I believe I am afraid of prosperity," she said, with a gentle smile. "I
had become entirely resigned, and forever bidden farewell to outward
splendor, so that its return surprises and almost alarms me. Oh, my
beloved friend, will it not destroy the humbled, inward repose, which,
during the time of privation, was our support, and the only source of
our happiness?"

"It is true," said the king, smiling, "during these quiet years here at
Koenigsberg, I was so happy as to have my wife, the charming consoler of
my afflictions, always at my side; henceforth, the queen will often take
my wife from me, and thousands of hearts which will welcome you so
rapturously, will separate me often enough from my ideal. But I am not
jealous, and the more my beautiful queen is honored, the greater will be
my happiness. Come, my Louisa, let us go! the carriages are in
readiness, and the children are waiting for us; but, before we leave
this quiet room, accept again my thanks for the fidelity and kindness
you have manifested toward me during my misfortunes. I am indebted to
you for many alleviations of the sorrows which weighed me down. I am not
a man of many words and cannot make fine phrases, but here in my soul I
feel fervently that God has placed you at my side as an angel of
consolation for the days of adversity, and of happiness for those of
prosperity. Because I love you, I gave your name to our youngest
daughter, born here at Koenigsberg. May she become a Louisa!"

"And may our sons inherit the noble spirit and the faithful and devout
heart of their father!" exclaimed the