in. It depends upon him
whether as a true nobleman he will not give my poor 'Invalids' a greater
sum. The marriage shall not take place until the letters of nobility
have been published in the Berlin journals, for I do not wish the
daughter of a general, and a countess, to marry beneath her. You can
prepare every thing for the wedding, and let them be married as soon as
publication has been made. I will give the bride a thousand thalers for
a dowry, that she may not go to her rich husband penniless; the money
will be paid to your daughter from the government treasury at her
receipt. As ever I remain your well-disposed king, FREDERICK.'

"And here on the margin," continued the general's wife, looking over to
her husband with malicious pleasure, "the king has written a few lines
in his own hand: 'I have given orders that the money shall be paid to
your daughter in person, with her receipt for the same, for I know you,
and know that you do not play, not because you have not the money, but
the gout. If you had the cash and not the gout, you would play your
daughter's dowry to the devil, and that I do not wish, for a noble
maiden should not marry a rich husband as poor as a church mouse.
FREDERICK.'"

A profound stillness prevailed when the reading was finished. The
general busied himself, as usual, rubbing his gouty leg with the palm
of his hand. Marie sat with her hands pressed upon her bosom, as if she
would force back the sighs and sobs which would break forth. Her great,
black eyes were turned to her mother with an expression of painful
terror, and she searched with a deathly anxiety for a trace of sympathy
and mercy upon her cold, immovable face.

Her mother slowly folded the letter, and laid it upon the table. "You
know all now, Marie--that, as it becomes parents, we have disposed
of your future and your hand. You will submit to their wishes without
murmuring or opposition, as it becomes an obedient, well-brought-up
daughter, and receive the husband we have chosen for you. He will
come today to hear your consent, and you from this day forth are the
betrothed of the future Herr von Werrig. Of course from this very hour
you will cease the highly improper and ungenteel business which you have
pursued. You must not make any more flowers, or give any more lessons.
The time of such degradation and humiliation is past, and my daughter
can no longer be a school-mistress. You have only to write the receipt
to-day, and I wil