ng of Solomon so thoroughly that the
Court Chaplain can examine Your Highness in the same tomorrow morning at
five o'clock. Second grenadier, front! [_The second grenadier comes
forward with the soup tureen._] The food ordered for Your Highness will
be brought up from the garrison kitchen punctually every day.

SONNSFELD (_opens the tureen_).

Dreadful stuff! Boiled beans!

ECKHOF.

Third grenadier, front! [_The third grenadier comes forward with the
half-knitted stocking._] And, finally, His Majesty the King pleases to
command Your Highness to knit, every two days, a pair of woolen
stockings for the worthy Foundling Asylum of Berlin. May it please Your
Royal Highness--this ends my orders.

SONNSFELD (_in a tone of despair_).

Princess, are these the King's plans for your future?

WILHELMINE (_trembling in excitement_).

Calm yourself, dear friend. Yes, this is the beginning of a new life
for me. The battle is on! Go to my father and tell him--

SONNSFELD.

Go to the King and tell him--[_To the_ PRINCESS.] What are they to tell
him?

WILHELMINE (_with tragic decision_).

Tell him that I--

SONNSFELD.

Tell him that we--

WILHELMINE.

That I--[_Her courage begins to fail._] That although we _will_ learn
the chapters--

SONNSFELD.

And although we _will_ eat the beans--

WILHELMINE.

It will not be our fault if [_with renewed courage_] if in the despair
of our hearts--

SONNSFELD (_tragically_).

We let fall the stitches in the orphan's stockings--

WILHELMINE.

And wish that we were merely the Princess of Reuss--

SONNSFELD.

Schleiz--

WILHELMINE.

Greiz and Lobenstein!

[_They go out angrily._]

ACT III

_The_ PRINCESS' _room. Attractive, cozy apartment. An open window to the
right. Doors centre, right and left. A cupboard, a table._

SCENE I

PRINCESS WILHELMINE _leans against the window-casing, deep in thought._
SONNSFELD _sits on the left side of the room, knitting a child's
stocking._

WILHELMINE (_aside_).

Hour after hour passes! What will the Prince think of me? Or can he have
learned my fate already?

SONNSFELD.

Did Your Highness speak?

WILHELMINE.

No, I--I merely sighed.

SONNSFELD.

It seemed as if you were talking to yourself. Don't be too melancholy.
You'll soon learn the Bible verses and I'll relieve you of most of the
knitting.

WILHELMINE.

You are too good--you are kinder to me than I have deserved of you
today. That work