nowing it."

"That was very naughty," said the king, a little severely. The prince
colored, and, a little frightened, said: "Sire, I could not bring it
any other way. I beg pardon, the uniform is so tight, and then--then,
I thought it would be dishonoring it to put a shuttlecock in the
cartridge-box."

"That was a good thought, prince, and for that I will forgive you the
trick upon your tutor. But what will you do with the ball here? Why did
you bring it?"

"Oh, I wished to show it to your majesty, it is so beautiful, and then
beg you to let me play a little."

"We will see, Fritz," said the king, much pleased. "If you deserve it,
that shall be your reward. Tell me the truth, is your tutor satisfied
with you?"

"Sire, Herr Behnisch is never really pleased, but he has not scolded me
much lately, so I must have been pretty good. One day he wrote 'Bien'
under my French exercise. Oh, I was so happy that I spent six groschen
of the thaler my father gave me a little while since, and bought two
pots of gilly-flowers, one for myself and one for my little brother
Henry, that he should have a souvenir of my 'Bien!'"

"That was right," said the king, nodding approvingly. "When you are
good, you must always let your friends and relations take part in it;
keep the bad only for yourself."

"I will remember that, and I thank you for the kind instruction."

"The studies seem to go very well, but how is it with the behavior? They
tell me that the prince is not always polite to his visitors; that he is
sometimes very rude, even to the officers who pay their respects to him
on his father's account, and on my account, not on his own, for what
do they care for such a little snip as he? They go to honor Prince
Frederick William of Prussia, though he is only a little flag-bearer.
They tell me that you do not appreciate the honor, but that at Easter
you behaved very badly."

"Sire, it is true; I cannot deny it--I did behave badly," sighed the
little prince.

"What was the matter?" asked the king. "It was not from fear, I hope? I
should be very angry at that. Tell me yourself, and tell me the truth."

"Your majesty can depend upon the whole truth. My tutor says that lying
is despicable, and that a prince who will one day be a king should be
too proud to tell a lie! I will tell you all about it. The officers came
to see me at Easter, just as I had put the Easter eggs in the garden,
for my little brother and some other boys whom I h