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obey the order, and approached the queen, who stood trembling near the carriage by the side of Madame von Berg. "Speak to him first," said Louisa to her friend. "You have heard that we cannot get any other horses," said Madame von Berg. "Her majesty wants you, therefore, to drive us to the next station." "That is impossible, madame," said the postilion; "my horses are exhausted, and I myself am so weary that I am almost unable to stand, for I have been on horseback for three days. We had to take fugitives to Kuestrin all the time." "If you drive us thither rapidly and without delay, you shall be liberally rewarded; you may depend on it," replied Madame von Berg. "All the rewards of the world would not do me any good, inasmuch as neither I nor my horses are able to continue the journey to Kuestrin," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. "I would gladly comply with your request, but I cannot." "You cannot?" asked the queen, in her sonorous voice, "have you any children?" "Yes, madame, I have children. Two boys and a girl." "Well, suppose you should hear that your children were in Kuestrin, that some great danger was menacing them, and that they were anxiously crying for their father. What would you do then?" "I would gallop with lightning speed, not caring if the trip killed my horses, could I only reach my children!" "Well," said the queen, with a gentle smile, "although you are a father, and love your children so ardently, yet you are cruel enough to refuse your assistance to a mother who wishes to hasten to hers? I beseech you take me to them, for they are looking with anxiety for me." As she uttered these words her eyes filled with tears, and her lips trembled. The man was silent, and gazed with an air of surprise at Louisa's beautiful face. "Madame," he said, after a pause, "pray enter the carriage again. I will take you to Kuestrin--you shall be with your children in an hour. But I tell you, madame," he added, turning to Madame von Berg, "I do not go for the sake of the reward you have promised me, and I will not take any money. I go because it would be infamous not to reunite a mother and her children. Now, make haste." He turned round without waiting for a reply, and began to prepare for the journey. The queen gazed after him with beaming glances, and then raised her eyes to heaven. "I thank Thee, my God," she murmured. "Give me strength that I may still believe in the human heart, and t
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