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dess； stands out in the midst of all other women； an imperial queen！ a queen of beauty； grace； and fascination！ This charming； innocent； and modest young woman belongs to me； she is my wife； and I have your inconstancy to thank you for this rare gem。 Oh； madame； I have indeed reason to forgive you for the past； to be grateful to you as long as I live。 But for you I should never have married the Princess Wilhelmina。 What no menaces； no entreaties； no commands of the king could accomplish； your faithlessness effected。 I married！ God； in his goodness； chose you to be a mediator between me and my fate； it was His will that； from your hand； I should receive my life's blessing。 You cured me of a wandering and unworthy passion； that I might feel the truth and enjoy the blessing of a pure love； and a love which now fills my heart and soul； my thoughts； my existence for my darling wife。〃
〃Ah； you are very cruel；〃 said Louise； scarcely able to suppress her tears of rage。
〃I am only true； madame；〃 said the prince； smiling。 〃You wished to know of me if I were still angry with you； and I reply that I have not only forgiven； but I bless your inconstancy。 And now； I pray you let us end this conversation； which I will never renew。 Let the past die and be buried！ We have both of us commenced a new life under the sunshine of a new love； we will not allow any cloud of remembrances to cast a shadow upon it。 Look； the beautiful shepherdesses are seeking flowers in the meadows； and my wife stands alone upon the borders of the lake。 Allow me to join her； if only to see if the clear waters of the lake reflect back her image as lovely and enchanting as the reality。〃
The prince bowed； and with hasty steps took the path that led to the lake。
Louise looked at him scornfully。 〃He despises me and he loves her fondly； but shedoes the princess love him？not so！ her glance is cold； icy； when she looks upon him； and to…day I saw her turn pale as the prince approached her。 No； she loves him not； but who then who？ she is young； ardent； and； it appears to me； impressible； she cannot live without love。 I will find out； a day will come when I will take vengeance for this hour。 I await that day！〃
While Louise forced herself to appear gay； in order to meet her husband without embarrassment； and the prince walked hastily onward； the princess stood separated from her ladies； on the borders of the lake； with the Count Kalkreuth at her side。 The count had been appointed her cavalier for the day； by the prince her husband； she seemed to give her undivided attention to the swans； who were floating before her； and stretching out their graceful necks to receive food from her hands。 As she bowed down to feed the swans； she whispered lightly； 〃Listen； count； to what I have to say to you。 If possible； laugh merrily； that my ladies may hear； let your countenance be gay； for I see the prince approaching。 In ten minutes he will be with us； do you understand my low tones？〃
〃I understand you； princess； alas！ I fear I understand without words； I have read my sentence in the eyes of your husband。 The prince suspects me。〃
〃No；〃 said she； sadly bowing down and plucking a few violets； which she threw to the swans； 〃he has no suspicion； but he loves me。〃
The count sprang back as if wounded。 〃He loves you！〃 he cried； in a loud； almost threatening tone。 〃For pity's sake speak low；〃 said the princess。 〃Look； the ladies turn toward us； and are listening curiously； and you have frightened the swans from the shore。 Laugh； I pray you； speak a few loud and jesting words； count； I implore you。〃
〃I cannot；〃 said the count。 〃Command me to throw myself into the lake and I will obey you joyfully； and in dying I will call your name and bless it； but do not ask me to smile when you tell me that the prince loves you。〃
〃Yes； he loves me； he confessed it to…day；〃 said the princess； shuddering。 〃Oh； it was a moment of inexpressible horror； a moment in which that became a sin which； until then； had been pure and innocent。 So long as my husband did not love me； or ask my love； I was free to bestow it where I would and when I would； so soon as he loves me； and demands my love； I am a culprit if I refuse it。〃
〃And I false to my friend；〃 murmured Kalkreuth。
〃We must instantly separate；〃 whispered she。 〃We must bury our love out of our sight； which until now has lived purely and modestly in our hearts； and this must be its funeral procession。 You see I have already begun to deck the grave with flowers； and that tears are consecrating them。〃 She pointed with her jewelled hand to the bouquet of white camelias which adorned her bosom。
〃It was cruel not to wear my flowers；〃 said the count。 〃Was it not enough to crush me？must you also trample my poor flowers； consecrated with my kisses and my whispers； under your feet？〃
〃The red roses which you gave me；〃 said she； lightly； 〃I will keep as a remembrance of the beautiful and glorious dream which the rude reality of life has dissipated。 These camelias are superb； but without fragrance； and colorless as my sad features。 I must wear them； for my husband gave them to me； and in so doing I decorate the grave of my love。 Farewell！hereafter I will live for my duties； as I cannot accept your love； I will merit your highest respect。 Farewell； and if from this time onward we are cold and strange； never forget that our souls belong to each other； and when I dare no longer think of the past； I will pray for you。〃
〃You never loved me；〃 whispered the count； with pallid； trembling lips； 〃or you could not give me up so rashly； you would not have the cruel courage to spurn me from you。 You are weary of me； and since the prince loves you； you despise the poor humble heart which laid itself at your feet。 Yes； yes； I cannot compete with this man； who is a prince and the brother of a king； who〃
〃Who is my husband；〃 cried she； proudly； 〃and who； while he loves me； dares ask that I shall accept his love。〃
〃Ah； now you are angry with me；〃 stammered the count； 〃you〃
〃Hush！〃 whispered she； 〃do you not see the prince？ Do laugh！ Bow down and give the swans these flowers！〃
The count took the flowers； and as he gave them to the swans； he whispered：
〃Give me at least a sign that you are not angry； and that you do not love the prince。 Throw this hated bouquet； which has taken the place of mine； into the water； it is like a poisoned arrow in my heart。〃
〃Hush！〃 whispered the princess。 She turned and gave the prince a friendly welcome。
Prince Henry was so happy in her presence； and so dazzled by her beauty； that he did not remark the melancholy of the count； and spoke with him gayly and jestingly； while the count mastered himself； and replied in the same spirit。
The princess bowed down to the swans； whom she enticed once more with caresses to the borders of the lake。 Suddenly she uttered a loud cry； and called to the two gentlemen for help。 The great white swan had torn the camelias from the bosom of the princess； and sailed off proudly upon the clear waters of the lake。
CHAPTER V。
INTRIGUES。
While Prince Henry celebrated Arcadian fetes at Rheinsberg； and gave himself up to love and joy； King Frederick lived in philosophic r