louisa of prussia and her times-第18节

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aspect。　And　indeed　it　was　a　charming　and　beautiful　sight　presented
by　this　young　queen　of　twenty　years。

Her　blue　eyes　were　beaming　in　the　full　fire　of　youth；　enthusiasm；
and　happiness；　a　sweet　smile　was　always　playing　on　her　finely…formed
mouth；　with　the　ripe　cherry　lips。　On　both　sides　of　her　slightly…
blushing　cheeks　her　splendid　auburn　hair　was　flowing　down　in　waving
ringlets；　her　noble　and　pure　forehead　arose　above　a　nose　of
classical　regularity；　and　her　figure；　so　proud　and　yet　so　charming；
so　luxuriant　and　yet　so　chaste；　full　of　true　royal　dignity　and
winning　womanly　grace；　was　in　complete　harmony　with　her　lovely　and
youthful　features。

〃Well？〃　asked　the　queen；　smiling。　〃Not　a　word　of　welcome　from　you；
my　beloved　husband？〃

〃I　only　say　to　you；　God　bless　you　on　your　new　path；　and　may　He
preserve　you　to　me　as　long　as　I　live！〃　replied　the　king；　deeply
moved；　and　embracing　his　queen　with　gushing　tenderness。

She　encircled　his　neck　with　her　soft；　white　arms；　and　leaned　her
head　with　a　happy　smile　upon　his　shoulder。　Thus　they　reposed　in　each
other's　arms；　silent　in　their　unutterable　delight；　solemnly　moved　in
the　profound　consciousness　of　their　eternal　and　imperishable　love。

Suddenly　they　were　interrupted　in　their　blissful　dream　by　a　low　cry；
and　when　they　quickly　turned　around　in　a　somewhat　startled　manner；
they　beheld　the　Countess　von　Voss；　mistress　of　ceremonies；　standing
in　the　open　door；　and　gloomily　gazing　upon　them。

The　king　could　not　help　laughing。

〃Do　you　see　now；　my　dear　countess？〃　he　said。　〃My　wife　and　I　see　each
other　without　any　previous　interruption　as　often　as　we　want　to　do
so；　and　that　is　precisely　as　it　ought　to　be　in　a　Christian　family。
But　you　are　a　charming　mistress　of　ceremonies；　and　hereafter　we　will
call　you　Dame　d'Etiquette。　＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　words。Vide
Eylert；　part　ii。；　p。　98。＇　Moreover；　I　will　comply　with　your　wishes
as　much　as　I　can。〃

He　kindly　nodded　to　her；　and　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　well　aware
of　the　meaning　of　this　nod；　withdrew　with　a　sigh；　closing　the　door
as　she　went　out。

The　queen　looked　up　to　her　husband　with　a　smile。

〃Was　it　again　some　quarrel　about　etiquette？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；　and　a　quarrel　of　the　worst　kind；〃　replied　the　king；　quickly。
〃The　mistress　of　ceremonies　demands　that　I　should　always　be
announced　to　you　before　entering　your　room；　Louisa。〃

〃Oh；　you　are　always　announced　here；〃　she　exclaimed；　tenderly；　〃my
heart　always　indicates　your　approachand　that　herald　is　altogether
sufficient；　and　it　pleases　me　much　better　than　the　stern　countenance
of　our　worthy　mistress　of　ceremonies。〃

〃It　is　the　herald　of　my　happiness；〃　said　the　king；　fervently；　laying
his　arm　upon　his　wife's　shoulder；　and　gently　drawing　her　to　his
heart。

〃Do　you　know　what　I　am　thinking　of　just　now？〃　asked　the　queen；　after
a　short　pause。　〃I　believe　the　mistress　of　ceremonies　will　get　up　a
large　number　of　new　rules；　and　lecture　me　considerably　about　the
duties　of　a　queen　in　regard　to　the　laws　of　etiquette。〃

〃I　believe　you　are　right；〃　said　the　king；　smiling。　〃But　I　don't
believe　she　is　right！〃　exclaimed　the　queen；　and；　closely　nestling　in
her　husband's　arms；　she　added：　〃Tell　me；　my　lord　and　king；　inasmuch
as　this　is　the　first　time　that　you　come　to　me　as　a　king；　have　I　not
the　right　to　ask　a　few　favors　of　you；　and　to　pray　you　to　grant　my
requests？〃　〃Yes；　you　have　that　right；　my　charming　queen；〃　said　the
king；　merrily；　〃and　I　pledge　you　my　word　that　your　wishes　shall　be
fulfilled；　whatever　they　may　be。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　the　queen；　joyfully；　〃there　are　four　wishes　that
I　should　like　you　to　grant。　Come；　sit　down　here　by　my　side；　on　this
small　sofa；　put　your　arm　around　my　waist；　and；　that　I　may　feel　that
I　am　resting　under　your　protection；　let　me　lean　my　head　upon　your
shoulder；　like　the　ivy　supporting　itself　on　the　trunk　of　the　strong
oak。　And　now　listen　to　my　wishes。　In　the　first　place；　I　want　you　to
allow　me　to　be　a　wife　and　mother　in　my　own　house；　without　any
restraint　whatever；　and　to　fulfil　my　sacred　duties　as　such　without
fear　and　without　regard　to　etiquette。　Do　you　grant　this　wish？〃

〃Most　cordially　and　joyfully；　in　spite　of　all　mistresses　of
ceremonies！〃　replied　the　king。

The　queen　nodded　gently　and　smiled。　〃Secondly；〃　she　continued；　〃I
beg　you；　my　beloved　husband；　on　your　own　part；　not　to　permit
etiquette　to　do　violence　to　your　feelings　toward　me；　and　always　to
call　me；　even　in　the　presence　of　others；　your　'wife；'　and　not　'her
majesty　the　queen。'　Will　you　grant　that；　too；　my　dearest　friend？〃

The　king　bent　over　her　and　kissed　her　beautiful　hair。

〃Louisa；〃　he　whispered；　〃you　know　how　to　read　my　heart；　and；
generous　as　you　always　are；　you　pray　me　to　grant　what　is　only　my　own
dearest　wish。　Yes；　Louisa；　we　will　always　call　each　other　by　those
most　honorable　of　our　titles；　'husband　and　wife。'　And　now；　your
third　wish；　my　dear　wife？〃

〃Ah；　I　have　some　fears　about　this　third　wish　of　mine；〃　sighed　the
queen；　looking　up　to　her　husband　with　a　sweet　smile。　〃I　am　afraid
you　cannot　grant　it；　and　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　perhaps；　was
right　when　she　told　me　etiquette　would　prevent　you　from　complying
with　it。〃

〃Ah；　the　worthy　mistress　of　ceremonies　has　lectured　you　also　today
already？〃　asked　the　king；　laughing。

The　queen　nodded。　〃She　has　communicated　to　me　several　important
sections　from　the　'book　of　ceremonies；'〃　she　sighed。　〃But　all　that
shall　not　deter　me　from　mentioning　my　third　wish　to　you。　I　ask　you；
my　Frederick；　to　request　the　king　to　permit　my　husband　to　live　as
plainly　and　modestly　as　heretofore。　Let　the　king　give　his　state
festivals　in　the　large　royal　palace　of　his　ancestorslet　him
receive　in　those　vast　and　gorgeous　halls　the　homage　of　his　subjects；
and　the　visits　of　foreign　princes；　and　let　the　queen　assist　him　on
such　occasions。　But　these　duties　of　royalty　once　attended　to；　may　we
not　be　permitted；　like　all　others；　to　go　home；　and　in　the　midst　of
our　dear　little　family　circle　repose　after　the　fatiguing　pomp　and
splendor　of　the　festivities？　Let　us　not　give　up　our　beloved　home　for
the　large　royal　palace！　Do　not　ask　me　to　leave　a　house　in　which　I
have　passed　the　happiest　and　finest　days　of　my　life。　See；　here　in
these　dear　old　rooms　of　mine；　every　thing　reminds　me　of　you；　and
whenever　I　am　walking　through　them；　the　whole　secret　history　of　our
love　and　happiness　stands　again　before　my　eyes。　Here；　in　this　room；
we　saw　each　other　for　the　first　time　after　my　arrival　in　Berlin；
alone　and　without　witnesses。　Here　you　imprinted　the　first　kiss　upon
your　wife's　lips；　and；　like　a　heavenly　smile；　it　penetrated　deep
into　my　soul；　and　it　has　remained　in　my　heart　like　a　little　guardian
angel　of　our　love。　Since　that　day；　even　in　the　fullest　tide　of
happiness；　I　always　feel　so　devout　and　grateful　to　God；　and　whenever
you　kiss　me；　the　little　angel　in　my　heart　is　praying　for　you；　and
whenever　I　am　praying；　he　kisses　you。〃

〃Oh；　Louisa；　you　are　my　angelmy　guardian　angel！〃　exclaimed　the
king；　enthusiastically。

The　queen　apparently　did　not　notice　this　interruptionshe　was
entirely　absorbed　in　her　recollections。　〃On　this　sofa　here；〃　she
said；　〃we　were　often　seated　in　fervent　embrace　like　to…day　and　when
every　thing　around　us　was　silent；　our　hearts　spoke　only　the　louder
to　each　other；　and　often　have　I　heard　here　from　your　lips　the　most
sublime　and　sacred　revelations　of　your　noble；　pure；　and　manly　soul。
In　my　adjoining　cabinet；　you　were　once　standing　at　the　window；
gloomy　and　downcast；　a　cloud　was　covering　your　brow；　and　I　knew　you
had　heard　again　sorrowful　tidings　in　your　father's　palace。　But　no
complaint　ever　dropped　from　your　lips；　for　you　always　were　a　good
and　dutiful　son；　and　even　to　me　you　never　alluded　to　your　father's
failings。　I　knew　what　you　were　suffering；　but　I　knew　also　that　at
that　hour　I　had　the　power　to　dispel　all　the　clouds　from　your　brow；
and　to　make　your　eyes　radiant　with　joy　and　happiness。　Softly
approaching　you；　I　laid　my　arm　around　your　neck；　and　my　head　on　your
breast；　and　thereupon　I　whispered　three　words　which　only　God　and　my
husband's　ears　were　to　hear。　And　you　heard　them；　and　you　uttered　a
loud　cry　of　joy；　and　before　I　knew　how　it　happened；　I　saw　you　on
your　knees　before　me；　kissing　my　feet　and　the　hem　of　my　garment；　and
applying　a　name　to　me　that　sounded　like　heavenly　music；　and　made　my
heart　overflow　with　ecstasy　and　suffused　my　cheeks　with　a　deep
blush。　And　I　don't　know　again　how　it　happened；　but　I　felt　that　I　was
kneeling　by　your　side；　and　we　were　lifting　up　our　folded　hands　to
heaven；　thanking　God　for　the　great　bliss　He　had　vouchsafed　to　us；
and　praying　Him　to　bless　our　child；　unknown　to　us　as　yet；　but
already　so　dearly　beloved。　Oh；　and　last；　my　own　Frederick；　do　you
remember　that　other　hour　in　my　bedroom？　You　were　sitting　at　my
bedside；　with　folded　hands；　praying；　and　yet；　during　your　prayer；
gazing　upon　me；　while　I　was　writhing　with　pain；　and　yet　so　supremely
happy　in　my　agony；　for　I　knew　that　Nature　at　that　hour　was　about　to
consecrate　me　for　my　most　exalted　and　sacred　vocation；　and　that　God
would　bless　our　love　with　a　visible　pledge　of　our　happiness。　The
momentous　hour　was　at　handa　film　covered　my　eyes；　and　I　could　only
see　t