d upon
her.

The queen and princesses made the grande tournee through the rooms, and
then mingled with the guests; all formal etiquette was now laid aside,
and a gay and unembarrassed conversation might be carried on till the
beginning of the concert. This seemed to degenerate, on the part of the
French officers, to an indiscreet, frenzied levity. They laughed and
talked boisterously--they walked arm in arm before the ladies, and
remarked upon them so boldly, that crimson blushes, or frightened
pallor, was the result. Even the queen remarked the strange and
unaccountable excitement of her guests, and to put an end to it, she
entered the concert-room and ordered the music to commence. Even this
had no effect. The royal capello played an overture composed by the
king, with masterly precision--the singers emulated them in an Italian
aria--but all this did not silence the noisy conversation of the
Frenchmen. They laughed and chatted without restraint; and neither the
amazed glances of the princesses nor the signs of the grand-master of
ceremonies, made the slightest impression upon them.

Suddenly there was a slight pause, and the Princess Amelia rose up from
her seat and beckoned with her fan to Baron Pollnitz. In a loud and
angry voice, she said: "Baron Pollnitz, I insist upon your forcing these
shrieking popinjays of the Marquise de Pompadour to silence. We cannot
hear the music for their loud chattering. The like birds may pass very
well in the gallant boudoir of a certain marquise, but not in a royal
palace of Berlin."

Pollnitz shrank back in alarm, and fixed an imploring look upon the
princess. Amongst the French officers arose an angry murmur, swelling
louder and louder, more and more threatening, and completely drowning
the music which was just recommencing.

The queen bowed down to the princess. "I pray you, sister," said she in
a low voice, "remember that we are poor, unprotected women, and not in
a condition to defend ourselves. Let us appear not to remark this
unmannerly conduct, and let us remember that the king has made it our
duty to receive the French officers with marked attention."

"You, sister, are simply a slave to the commands of the king. He is more
truly your master than your husband," said the princess, angrily.

The queen smiled sweetly. "You are right; I am his slave, and my soul
has chosen him for its lord. Blame me not, then, for my obedience."

"Do you intend to allow the arrogant pres