to speak of him, but I must."

Marie stood as if rooted to the spot, her face flushed, and in
breathless expectation looking back to old Trude.

"Speak, Trude," she softly murmured.

"Marie, I saw him to-day, an hour ago!"

"Where, Trude, where did you see him?"

"Over on the corner of Frederick Street, by the baker's. He stood
waiting for me, as he knows I always go there. He had been there two
hours, and feared that I was not coming."

"What did he say? Quick! what did he say?"

"He said that he was coming to see you to-day at twelve o'clock; that he
would rather die than live in this way."

"To-day? and you have just told me of it!"

"I did not mean to say any thing at all about it; I thought it would be
better, and then you would not have to dissemble. But now, if any harm
comes to you, you know he is coming, and will stand by you!"

"He will stand by me--yes, he will--"

"Marie!" cried her mother, and her dry, gaunt figure appeared at the
foot of the stairs. Marie flew down to the sitting-room of her parents,
following her mother, who took her place in the niche at the open window
without speaking to her.

CHAPTER XIV. THE KING'S LETTER.

"Marie," said the general's wife, after seating herself upon the hard
cushion of the divan, near which sat the general in his arm-chair,
busily stroking his painful right leg--"Marie, take a chair, and sit
near us."

Marie noiselessly brought a cane-chair, and seated herself by the table,
opposite her parents.

"We have just received a communication from the king's cabinet,"
said the mother, solemnly. "It is necessary that you should know the
contents, and I will read it aloud to you. I expressly forbid you,
however, to interrupt me while I am reading, in your impetuous
manner, with your remarks, which are always of the most obstinate and
disagreeable kind. You understand, do you, Marie?"

"Perfectly, mother; I will listen without interrupting you, according to
your command."

"This communication is naturally addressed to your father, as I wrote to
the king in his name."

"I did not know that you had written to his majesty at all, dear
mother."

The mother cast a furious glance at the gentle, decided face of her
daughter. "You already forget my command and your promise to listen
without interrupting me. I did, indeed, write to his majesty, but it is
not necessary to tell you what I, or rather your father, solicited,
as you will hear it in the answ