scious that it is your own
free choice and not force which retains you."

"I will give you an outward sign of our bond of union," cried the
prince. "I will do it today, as a twofold danger hangs over us--the king
menaces you, and war menaces me."

"Is it then true, do you go with the king to the field?" groaned
Wilhelmine.

"Do you wish me to remain?" cried the prince, his eyes flashing. "Shall
I here seek pleasure, with effeminate good nature, while the king, in
spite of his age, exposes himself to all the fatigue of a campaign
and the danger of battle? This war of the Bavarian succession is
unfortunate, and no one knows whether the German empire will derive any
important advantage from our sustaining by force of arms a little duchy.
It is a question whether it would not be better to abolish the little
principalities, in order to strengthen the greater German powers. The
king will support Bavaria, because he envies Austria its possession,
and, as he has decided upon war, it becomes his crown prince to yield
to his decision without murmuring. Therefore, Wilhelmine, I will today
witness to you the oath of fidelity. If God calls me to Him, if I fall
in battle, this oath will be your legacy. I have nothing else to leave
you, thanks to the parsimony of my noble uncle. I am a very poor crown
prince, with many debts and little money, and not in a condition to
reward your love and fidelity otherwise than with promises and hopes,
and letters of credit for the future. Such a bill of exchange I will
write for you--a legacy for my dear Wilhelmine. Give me pen and paper."

Wilhelmine hastened to her writing table and brought him paper with
writing materials. "There, my Frederick," said she, "there is every
thing necessary--only the ink, I fear, may be dried."

The prince shook his head, smiling. "Such a lover's oath as I will
transcribe for you can be written with no common ink. See, here is my
ink!"

The prince had suddenly made a slight incision in his arm, and, as the
blood gushed out, he dipped his pen in it, and wrote; then handed it
to Wilhelmine, saying: "Read it here, in the presence of God and
ourselves."

Wilhelmine pressed it to her lips, and read, with a solemn voice: "'By
my word of honor as a prince, I will never forsake you, and only death
shall separate you from me.--Prince Frederick William of Prussia.'"
[Footnote: "Memoires of the Countess Lichtenau." p. 120.]

"By my word of honor as a prince, I will ne