ad invited to hunt for
them. I had spent my last six groschen for the eggs, and I anticipated
so much pleasure with the hide-and-seek for them. We had just begun,
when the officers came."

"That was really unfortunate," said the king, sympathizingly.

"Yes, sire, very disagreeable, and I could not possibly feel kindly.
While the officers were talking, I was always wishing they would go. But
they stayed and stayed--and when Major von Werder began to make a long
speech to me, and I thought there was no end to it, I became impatient
and furious--and--"

"Why do you hesitate?" asked the king, looking tenderly at the frank,
glowing face of the boy. "What happened?"

"Something dreadful, sire! I could not keep in any longer. The major
kept on talking, and looked at me so sharply, I could not help making
an abominable face. It is unfortunately true--I ran my tongue out at
him--only just a little bit--and I drew it back in an instant; but
it was done, and a dreadful scene followed. The major did not say any
thing, my tutor was red as fire, and I was thunderstruck!"

"That was excessively rude, my little flag-bearer," cried the king.

The young prince was so ashamed, and was looking down so penitently,
that he did not see the smile on Frederick's face, and the affectionate
look with which he regarded the youthful sinner.

"Do you know that you deserve to be imprisoned fourteen days, and live
on bread and water, for insubordination?"

"I know it now, sire. I beg pardon most humbly," said the prince,
with quivering voice and with tears in his eyes. "I have been punished
enough, without that. Herr Behnisch would not let me go to the garden
again, and I have never seen the eggs which I spent my last groschen
for, nor the boys whom I had invited. I was made to stay in my room all
Easter week, learn twenty Latin words every day, and write three pages
of German words in good handwriting. It was a hard punishment, but I
knew that I deserved it, and did not complain. I only thought that I
would do better in future."

"If you thought so, and you have already been punished, we will say
no more about it," said the king. "But tell me, how did you get on at
Whitsuntide, when the officers paid you their respects again?"

"Your majesty," answered the prince, "it was a great deal better; I
behaved tolerably well, except a very little rudeness, which was not so
bad after all. [Footnote: The little prince's own words.--See "Diary of
Pr