who did but obey the command
of her parents, and followed the man who was the first and only one that
ever whispered the word of love in her ear."

"I have heard that your parents sold their child to shame. Is it true?"
cried the king.

"Sire, my father was poor; the scanty income of a chapel musician
scarcely sufficed to educate and support four children. The prince
promised my father to educate me."

"Bah! The promises of a young man of twenty-five are made without
reflection, and rarely ever fulfilled."

"Sire, to the Prince of Prussia I owe all that I know, and all that I
am; his promise to my dying father was fully redeemed."

"Indeed, by whom were you taught, and what have you learned?"

"Your majesty, the prince wished, before all, that I should learn to
speak French. Madame Girard was my French instructress, and taught me to
play the guitar and spinet also."

"Oh, I presume you have learned to jabber a little French and drum a
little music," said the king, shrugging his shoulders.

"I beg pardon, sire; I have a tolerable knowledge of history and of
geography. I am familiar with the ancient and modern poets. I have read
a good French translation of Homer, Horace, and Virgil, with a master. I
have studied the history of Brandenburg, of Germany, and of America. We
have read the immortal works of Voltaire, of Jean Jacques Rousseau, and
of Shakespeare, with many of our modern poets. My instructor has read
all these works aloud to me, and he was much pleased when I repeated
parts of what he had read to me some days afterward."

"You appear to have had a very learned instructor," remarked the king,
sneeringly. "What is his name?"

"His name, sire, is Prince Frederick William of Prussia. Yes, it is
he who has taught me--he who has made me an intelligent woman. However
young he was when he undertook the task, he has accomplished it with
fidelity, firmness, and patience. He loved me, and would make me worthy
of him, in heart and mind. I shall ever be grateful to him, and only
death can extinguish the love and esteem with which he in spires me."

"Suppose I command you to leave the prince? Suppose I will no longer
endure the scandal of this sinful relation?"

"I shall never willingly separate myself from my dear prince and
master--from the father of my two children. Your majesty will be obliged
to force me from him," answered Wilhelmine, defiantly.

"Oh, that will not be necessary, mademoiselle," cried the k