frederick the great and his family-第29节

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end　the　new　feelings　and　new　wishes　which　were　struggling　there。

At　times　he　stood　still；　and　looked　with　a　wild；　rapt　expression　into　the　heavens；　as　if　they　alone　could　answer　the　mysterious　questions　his　soul　was　whispering　to　him；　then　passed　on　with　his　hand　pressed　on　his　brow　to　control　or　restrain　the　thoughts　which　agitated　him。　He　did　not　hear　a　light　tap　upon　the　door；　he　did　not　see　it　open；　and　his　most　intimate　and　dearest　friend；　Count　Kalkreuth　enter；　dressed　in　the　full　costume　of　a　shepherd。

Count　Kalkreuth　stood　still；　and　did　nothing　to　call　the　attention　of　the　prince　to　his　presence。　He　remained　at　the　door；　his　face　was　also　dark　and　troubled；　and　the　glance　which　he　fixed　upon　Prince　Henry　was　almost　one　of　hatred。

The　prince　turned；　and　the　count's　expression　changed　instantly；　he　stepped　gayly　forward　and　said：

〃Your　royal　highness　sees　my　astonishment　at　finding　you　lost　in　such　deep　thought；　and　your　toilet　not　even　commenced。　I　stand　like　Lot's　blessed　wife；　turned　to　stone　upon　your　threshold！　Have　you　forgotten；　my　prince；　that　you　commanded　us　all　to　be　ready　punctually　at　four　o'clock？　The　castle　clock　is　at　this　moment　striking　four。　The　ladies　and　gentlemen　will　now　assemble　in　the　music…saloon；　as　you　directed；　and　you；　prince；　are　not　yet　in　costume。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Prince　Henry；　somewhat　embarrassed；　〃I　had　forgotten；　but　I　will　hasten　to　make　good　my　fault。〃

He　stepped　slowly；　and　with　head　bowed　down；　toward　his　dressing…　room；　at　the　door；　he　stood　and　looked　back　at　the　count。

〃You　are　already　in　costume；　my　friend；〃　said　he；　noticing　for　the　first　time　the　fantastic　dress　of　the　count。　〃Truly；　this　style　becomes　you　marvellously；　your　bright…colored　satin　jacket　shows　your　fine　proportions　as　advantageously　as　your　captain's　uniform。　But　what　means　this　scarf　which　you　wear　upon　your　shoulder？〃

〃These　are　the　colors　of　my　shepherdess；〃　said　the　count；　with　a　constrained　smile。

〃Who　is　your　shepherdess？〃

〃Your　highness　asks　that；　when　you　yourself　selected　her！〃　said　Kalkreuth；　astonished。

〃Yes　it　is　true；　I　forgot；〃　said　the　prince。　〃The　princess；　my　wife；　is　your　shepherdess。　Well；　I　sincerely　hope　you　may　find　her　highness　more　gay　and　gracious　than　she　was　to　me　this　morning；　and　that　you　may　see　the　rare　beauty　of　this　fair　rose；　of　which　I　only　feel　the　thorns！〃

While　the　prince　was　speaking；　the　count　became　deathly　pale；　and　looked　at　him　with　painful　distrust。

〃It　is　true；〃　he　replied；　〃the　princess　is　cold　and　reserved　toward　her　husband。　Without　doubt；　this　is　the　result　of　a　determination　to　meet　your　wishes　fully；　and　to　remain　clearly　within　the　boundary　which　your　highness　at　the　time　of　your　marriage；　more　than　a　year　ago；　plainly　marked　out　for　her。　The　princess　knows；　perhaps　too　well；　that　her　husband　is　wholly　indifferent　to　her　beauty　and　her　expression；　and　therefore　feels　herself　at　liberty　to　yield　to　each　changeful　mood　without　ceremony　in　your　presence。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Prince　Henry；　sadly；　〃she　is　wholly　indifferent　to　me；　and　I　have　told　her　so。　We　will　speak　no　more　of　it。　What；　indeed；　are　the　moods　of　the　princess　to　me？　I　will　dress；　go　to　the　music…saloon；　and　ask　for　forgiveness　in　my　name　for　my　delay。　I　will　soon　be　ready；　I　will　seek　the　princess　in　her　apartments；　and　we　will　join　you　in　a　few　moments。〃

The　prince　bowed　and　left　the　room。　Kalkreuth　gazed　after　him　thoughtfully　and　anxious。

〃His　manner　is　unaccountably　strange　to…day；〃　whispered　he。　〃Has　he；　perhaps；　any　suspicion；　and　these　apparently　artless　questions　and　remarks　this　distraction　and　forgetfulnessBut　no；　no！　it　is　impossible；　he　can　know　nothingno　one　has　betrayed　me。　It　is　the　anguish　of　my　conscience　which　makes　me　fearful；　this　suffering　I　must　bear；　it　is　the　penalty　I　pay　for　my　great　happiness。〃　The　count　sighed　deeply　and　withdrew。

The　prince　completed　his　toilet；　and　sought　the　princess　in　her　apartment；　in　the　other　wing　of　the　castle。　With　hasty　steps　he　passed　through　the　corridors；　his　countenance　was　anxious　and　expectant；　his　eyes　were　glowing　and　impatient；　haste　marked　every　movement；　he　held　in　his　hand　a　costly　bouquet　of　white　camelias。　When　he　reached　the　anteroom　of　the　princess　he　became　pallid；　and　leaned　for　a　moment；　trembling　and　gasping　for　breath；　against　the　wall；　he　soon；　however；　by　a　strong　effort；　controlled　himself；　entered；　and　commanded　the　servant　to　announce　him。

The　Princess　Wilhelmina　received　her　husband　with　a　stiff；　ceremonious　courtesy；　which；　in　its　courtly　etiquette；　did　not　correspond　with　the　costume　she　had　assumed。　The　proud　and　stately　princess　was　transformed　into　an　enchanting；　lovely　shepherdess。　It　was；　indeed；　difficult　to　decide　if　the　princess　were　more　beautiful　in　her　splendid　court　toilet；　adorned　with　diamonds；　and　wearing　on　her　high；　clear　brow　a　sparkling　diadem；　proud　and　conscious　of　her　beauty　and　her　triumphs；　or　now；　in　this　artistic　costume；　in　which　she　was　less　imposing；　but　more　enchanting　and　more　gracious。

Wilhelmina　wore　an　under…skirt　of　white　satin；　a　red　tunic；　gayly　embroidered　and　festooned　with　white　roses；　a　white　satin　bodice；　embroidered　with　silver；　defined　her　full　but　pliant　form；　and　displayed　her　luxurious　bust　in　its　rare　proportions；　a　bouquet　of　red　roses　was　fastened　upon　each　shoulder；　and　held　the　silvery　veil　which　half　concealed　the　lovely　throat　and　bosom。　The　long；　black；　unpowdered　hair　fell　in　graceful　ringlets　about　her　fair　neck；　and　formed　a　dark　frame　for　the　beautiful　face；　glowing　with　health；　youth；　and　intellect。　In　her　hair　she　wore　a　wreath　of　red　and　white　roses；　and　a　bouquet　of　the　same　in　her　bosom。

She　was；　indeed；　dazzling　in　her　beauty；　and　was；　perhaps；　conscious　of　her　power；　her　eyes　sparkled；　and　a　ravishing　smile　played　upon　her　lips　as　she　looked　up　at　the　prince；　who　stood　dumb　and　embarrassed　before　her；　and　could　find　no　words　to　express　his　admiration。

〃If　it　is　agreeable　to　your　highness；　let　us　join　your　company；〃　said　the　princess；　at　last；　anxious　to　put　an　end　to　this　interview。　She　extended　her　hand　coolly　to　her　husband；　he　grasped　it；　and　held　it　fast；　but　still　stood　silently　looking　upon　her。

〃Madame；〃　said　he；　at　last；　in　low　and　hesitating　tones〃madame；　I　have　a　request　to　make　of　you。〃

〃Command　me；　my　husband；〃　said　she；　coldly；　〃what　shall　I　do？〃

〃I　do　not　wish　to　command；　but　to　entreat；〃　said　the　prince。

〃Well；　then；　Prince　Henry；　speak　your　request。〃

The　prince　gave　the　bouquet　of　white　camelias　to　his　wife；　and　said；　in　a　faltering；　pleading　voice；　〃I　beg　you　to　accept　this　bouquet　from　me；　and　to　wear　it　to…day　in　your　bosom；　although　it　is　not　your　shepherd　who　offers　it！〃

〃No；　not　my　shepherd；　but　my　husband；〃　said　the　princess；　removing　angrily　the　bouquet　of　roses　from　her　bodice。　〃I　must；　of　course；　wear　the　flowers　he　gives　me。〃

Without　giving　one　glance　at　the　flowers；　she　fastened　them　in　her　bosom。

〃If　you　will　not　look　upon　them　for　my　sake；〃　said　the　prince；　earnestly；　〃I　pray　you；　give　them　one　glance　for　the　flowers'　sake。　You　will　at　least　feel　assured　that　no　other　shepherdess　is　adorned　with　such　a　bouquet。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Wilhelmina；　〃these　are　not　white　roses；　indeed；　they　seem　to　be　artificial　flowers；　their　leaves　are　hard　and　thick　like　alabaster；　and　dazzlingly　white　like　snow。　What　flowers　are　these；　my　prince？〃

〃They　are　camelias。　I　recently　heard　you　speak　of　these　rare　flowers；　which　had　just　been　imported　to　Europe。　I　hoped　to　please　you　by　placing　them　in　your　hands。〃

〃Certainly；　but　I　did　not　know　that　these　new　exotics　were　blooming　in　our　land。〃

〃And　they　are　not；〃　said　Prince　Henry。　〃This　bouquet　comes　from　Schwetzingen；　there；　only；　in　Germany；　in　the　celebrated　green…　houses　of　the　Margravine　of　Baden　can　they　be　seen。〃

〃How；　then；　did　you　get　them？〃　said　the　princess；　astonished。

〃I　sent　a　courier　to　Schwetzingen；　the　blossoms　were　wrapped　in　moist；　green　moss；　and　are　so　well　preserved；　that　they　look　as　fresh　as　when　they　were　gathered　six　days　since。〃

〃And　you　sent　for　them　for　me？〃　said　Wilhelmina。

〃Did　you　not　express　a　wish　to　see　them？〃　replied　the　prince；　and　his　glance　rested　upon　her　with　such　ardent　passion　that；　blushing；　she　cast　her　eyes　to　the　ground；　and　stood　still　and　ashamed　before　him。

〃And　you　have　not　one　little　word　of　thanks？〃　said　the　prince；　after　a　long　pause。　〃Will　you　not　fasten　these　pure　flowers　on　your　bosom；　and　allow　them　to　die　a　happy　death　there？　Alas！　you　are　hard　and　cruel　with　me；　princess；　it　seems　to　me　that　your　husband　dare　claim　from　you　more　of　kindliness　and　friendship。〃

〃My　husband！〃　cried　she；　in　a　mocking　tone。　She　turned　her　eyes；　searchingly；　in　every　direction　around　the　room。　〃It　appears　to　me　that　we　are　alone　and　wholly　unobserved；　and　that　it　is　here　unnecessary　for　us　to　play　this　comedy　and　call　ourselves　by　those　names　which　we　adopted　to　deceive　the　world；　and　which　you　taught　me　to　regard　as　empty　titles。　It　is；　indeed；　possible　that　a　wife　should　be　more　friendly　and　affectionate　to　her　husband；　but　I　do　not　believe　that　a　lady　dare　give　more　encouragement　to　a　cavalier　than　I　manifest　to　your　royal　highness。〃

〃You　are　more　f