e come here alone, and begged so long at the door, that
you would have let me come in!"

"And what if I would not have let you come in at all?" said the king,
smiling.

The little flag-bearer reflected a moment, then answered with a
confident air: "Your majesty, I would have forced open the door, thrown
myself at your feet, and kissed your hand, saying, 'My king, my dear
great-uncle, I must come in to thank you a thousand times for the
flag-bearer's commission you have sent me, and for the beautiful
uniform.' Then I would see if your majesty had the courage to send me
away."

"Let me see, my prince--do you think my courage could fail me upon any
occasion?"

"Yes, in bad things," zealously cried the prince, "and it would be bad
if you would not let me thank you. I am so happy with the commission and
the beautiful uniform which you so graciously sent to me! Tell me, your
majesty, do I not look beautifully?" The boy straightened his elegant,
slender form, and saluted the king, putting the two fingers of his right
hand upon his cap.

"Yes, yes," said Frederick, "you look very nicely, my prince; but it is
not enough that you look well--you must behave well. From a flag-bearer
in my army I expect very different things than from any common child.
Who wears my uniform must prove himself worthy of the honor."

"Your majesty," cried the prince, "I assure you, upon my word of honor,
that I have no bad marks when I wear the uniform. Your majesty can ask
my tutor. He came with me, and waits in the anteroom to speak with you.
He will tell you that I have a good report."

"Very well, we will call him presently," said Frederick, smiling.
"Now we will chat a little together. Tell me whether you are very
industrious, and if you are learning anything of consequence?"

"Sire, I must learn, even if I had no inclination to; Herr Behnisch
leaves me no peace. I have scarcely time to play. I am always learning
to read, to write, to cipher, and to work."

"How about the geography and universal history?"

"Oh, your majesty, I wish there were no geography and history in the
world, and then I should not have to study so cruelly hard, and I could
play more. My mother sent me last week a new battledore and shuttlecock,
but I can never learn to play with it. I no sooner begin, than Herr
Behnisch calls me to study. To-day I was very cunning--oh, I was so sly!
I put it in the great-pocket of my tutor's coat, and he brought it here
without k