the　concert　was　going　on；　he　bowed　over　her　and　spoke　long　and　impressively。　Fraulein　Marshal　did　not　reply；　neither　his　ardent　love…assurances；　nor　his　glowing　reproaches；　nor　his　passionate　entreaties；　nor　his　bold　and　offensive　insolence；　could　draw　from　her　one　word；　one　look。
  When　the　concert　was　over；　and　they　were　about　to　return　to　the　saloon　where；　until　supper；　they　could　dance　and　amuse　themselves；　the　young　maiden　turned　with　calm　composure　and　indifference　to　Count　Belleville。　〃Sir；　I　forbid　you　to　molest　me　with　your　presence；　and　I　counsel　you　no　longer　to　offend　my　ears　with　these　indecent　romances；　which　you　have　no　doubt　learned　upon　the　streets　of　Paris。　But　if；　believing　that　I　am　unprotected；　you　still　dare　to　insult　me；　I　Inform　you　that　my　father　has　this　moment　arrived；　and　will　certainly　relieve　me　from　your　disagreeable　and　troublesome　society。〃　She　spoke　aloud；　and　not　only　Belleville；　but　the　group　of　French　officers　who　stood　behind　him；　heard　every　word。　She　passed　by　them　with　calm　indifference　and　joined　a　large；　elderly　officer；　who　was　leaning　against　a　pillar；　and　who　stretched　out　his　hand　smilingly　toward　her。
  〃Father；〃　she　said；　〃God　himself　put　it　in　your　heart　to　come　to　Berlin　this　day。　You　are　by　my　side；　and　I　have　nothing　to　fear。　I　know　you　can　protect　me。〃
  In　the　mean　time；　the　musicians　commenced　to　play　the　grave　and　at　the　same　time　coquettish　minuet；　and　the　officers　drew　near　the　ladies　to　lead　them　to　the　dance。　This　was　done；　however；　in　so　bold　and　unconstrained　a　manner；　with　such　manifest　nonchalance；　the　request　was　made　with　such　levity；　the　words　were　so　little　respectful；　that　the　ladies　drew　back　frightened。　Princess　Amelia　called　Fraulein　Marshal　to　her　side。　She　took　her　hand　with　a　kindly　smile。
  〃My　child；〃　she　said；　〃I　rejoice　that　you　have　the　courage　to　defy　these　shameless　coxcombs。　Go　on；　and　count　upon　my　protection。　Why　are　you　not　dancing？〃
  〃Because　no　one　has　asked　me。〃
  At　this　moment　an　officer　drew　near　with　diligent　haste；　apparently　to　lead　her　to　the　dance。　While　in　the　act　of　offering　his　hand　to　her　he　made　a　sudden　movement；　as　if　he　had　just　recognized　the　lady；　turned　his　back；　and　withdrew　without　a　word　of　apology。
  The　princess　was　enraged。　〃I　promise　you　they　shall　be　punished　for　this　presumption。　〃She　turned　to　Baron　Marshal；　who　stood　behind　his　daughter：　〃Baron；〃　said　she；　〃if　this　leads　to　a　duel；　I　will　be　your　second！〃
  CHAPTER　VII。
  IN　THE　WINDOW…NICHE。
  While　these　events　were　occurring　in　the　dancing…room；　and　the　queen　was　seated　at　the　card…table；　the　Princess　Wilhelmina；　wife　of　Prince　Henry；　stood　in　the　window…niche　of　the　ball…room　and　conversed　with　Count　Kalkreuth；　the　friend　and　adjutant　of　her　husband。　The　count　had　been　sent　home　amongst　the　wounded；　but　he　was　now　restored　and　about　to　return　to　the　camp。　They　spoke　quickly　and　impressively　together；　but　the　music　drowned　their　words　and　made　them　indistinct　to　all　others。　What　said　they　to　each　other？　Seemingly　petty　and　indifferent　things。　They　had；　perhaps；　a　deeper；　secret　meaning；　for　the　countenance　of　the　princess　and　that　of　the　count　were　grave；　and　the　sweet　smile　had　vanished　from　the　charming　face　of　the　princess。　They　spoke　of　unimportant　things；　perhaps；　because　they　had　not　the　courage　for　the　great　word　which　must　be　spokenthe　word　farewell！
  〃Your　royal　highness　has　then　no　further　commission　to　give　me　for　the　prince？〃　said　the　count；　after　a　pause。
  〃No；〃　said　the　princess；　〃I　wrote　to　him　yesterday　by　the　courier。　Describe　the　ball　to　him；　and　tell　him　how　we　are；　and　how　you　left　me。〃
  〃I　must　tell　him；　then；　that　your　highness　is　perfectly　gay；　entirely　happy；　and　glowing　with　health　and　beauty；〃　said　the　count。　These　were　simple　and　suitable　words；　but　they　were　spoken　in　a　hard　and　bitter　tone。
  The　princess　fixed　her　large　soft　eyes　with　an　almost　pleading　expression　upon　the　count；　then　with　a　quick　movement　she　took　a　wreath　of　white　roses；　which　she　wore　in　her　bosom；　and　held　them　toward　him。　〃As　a　proof　that　I　am　gay　and　happy；〃　said　she；　〃take　these　flowers　to　my　husband；　and　tell　him　I　adorned　myself　with　them　in　honor　of　his　fete。〃
  The　count　pressed　his　lips　convulsively　together　and　looked　angrily　upon　the　princess；　but　he　did　not　raise　his　hand　to　take　the　flowersdid　not　appear　to　see　that　she　held　them　toward　him。
  〃Well；　sir；〃　said　the　Princess　Wilhelmina；　〃you　do　not　take　the　flowers？〃
  〃No；〃　said　he；　passionately；　〃I　will　not　take　them。〃　The　princess　looked　anxiously　around；　she　feared　some　one　might　have　heard　this　stormy　〃No。〃　She　soon　convinced　herself　that　there　was　no　listener　nearer　than　her　maid　of　honor；　Fraulein　Marshal　was　still　near　the　Princess　Amelia；　and　she　was　somewhat　isolated　by　etiquette；　she　saw；　therefore；　that　she　dared　carry　on　this　conversation。
  〃Why　will　you　not　take　my　flowers？〃　she　said；　proudly。
  The　count　drew　nearer。　〃I　will　tell　you；　princess；〃　said　he〃I　will　tell　you；　if　this　passionate　pain　now　burning　in　my　breast　does　not　slay　me。　I　will　not　take　your　flowers；　because　I　will　not　be　a　messenger　of　love　between　you　and　the　prince；　because　I　cannot　accept　the　shame　and　degradation　which　such　an　office　would　lay　upon　me。　Princess　you　have　forgotten；　but　I　remember　there　was　a　wondrous　time　in　which　I；　and　not　the　prince；　was　favored　with　a　like　precious　gift。　At　that　time　you　allowed　me　to　hope　that　this　glowing；　inextinguishable　feeling　which　filled　my　heart；　my　soul；　found　an　echo　in　your　breast；　that　at　least　you　would　not　condemn　me　to　die　unheard；　misunderstood。〃
  〃I　knew　not　at　that　time　that　my　husband　loved　me；〃　murmured　the　princess；　〃I　thought　I　was　free　and　justified　in　giving　that　heart　which　no　one　claimed　to　whom　I　would。〃
  〃You　had　no　sooner　learned　that　the　prince　loved　you　than　you　turned　from　me；　proud　and　cold；〃　said　the　count；　bitterly；　〃relentlessly；　without　mercy；　without　pity；　you　trampled　my　heart　under　your　feet；　and　not　a　glance；　not　a　word　showed　me　that　you　had　any　remembrance　of　the　past。　I　will　tell　you　what　I　suffered。　You　have　a　cold　heart；　it　will　make　you　happy　to　hear　of　any　anguish。　I　loved　you　so　madly　I　almost　hated　you；　in　the　madness　of　my　passion　I　cursed　you。　I　thanked　God　for　the　war；　which　forced　me　to　that　for　which　I　had　never　found　the　moral　strength　to　leave　you。　Yes；　I　was　grateful　when　the　war　called　me　to　the　fieldI　hoped　to　die。　I　did　not　wish　to　dishonor　my　name　by　suicide。　I　was　recklessly　brave；　because　I　despised　lifeI　rushed　madly　into　the　ranks　of　the　enemy；　seeking　death　at　their　hands；　but　God's　blessed　minister　disdained　me　even　as　you　had　done。　I　was　borne　alive　from　the　battle…field　and　brought　to　Berlin　to　be　nursed　and　kindly　cared　for。　No　one　knew　that　here　I　received　daily　new　and　bitter　wounds。　You　were　always　cruel；　cruel　even　to　the　last　moment；　you　saw　my　sufferings；　but　you　were　inexorable。　Oh；　princess；　it　would　have　been　better　to　refuse　me　entrance；　to　banish　me　from　your　presence；　than　to　make　my　heart　torpid　under　the　influence　of　your　cold　glance；　your　polished　speech；　which　ever　allured　me　and　yet　kept　me　at　a　distance。　You　have　played　a　cruel　game　with　me；　princess　you　mock　me　to　the　last。　Shall　I　be　your　messenger　to　the　prince？　You　know　well　that　I　would　give　my　heart's　blood　for　one　of　those　sweet　flowers；　and　you　send　them　by　me　to　another。　My　humility；　my　subjection　is　at　an　end；　you　have　sinned　against　me　as　a　woman；　and　I　have　therefore　the　right　to　accuse　you　as　a　man。　I　will　not　take　these　flowers！　I　will　not　give　them　to　the　prince！　And　now　I　have　finishedI　beg　you　to　dismiss　me。〃
  The　princess　had　listened　tremblingly；　her　face　became　ever　paler　completely　exhausted；　she　leaned　against　the　wall。
  〃Before　you　go；〃　whispered　she；　〃listen　to　a　few　words；　it　may　be　that　the　death　you　seek　may　be　found　on　the　battle…fieldthis　may　be　our　last　interview　in　this　world；　in　such　a　moment　we　dare　speak　the　truth　to　each　other；　from　the　souls　which　have　been　closely　veiled；　may　cloud　and　darkness　be　for　one　moment　lifted。　What　I　now　say　to　you　shall　go　as　a　sacred　secret　with　you　to　the　grave；　if　you　fall；　but　if　God　hears　my　prayer；　and　you　return；　I　command　you　to　forget　it；　never　to　remind　me　of　it。　You　say　I　have　a　cold　heart。　Alas！　I　only　choked　the　flame　which　raged　within　me；　I　would　have　my　honor　and　my　duty　burned　to　ashes。　You　say　that　my　eyes　are　never　clouded；　that　they　shed　no　tears。　Ah！　believe　me；　I　have　wept　inwardly；　and　the　silent；　unseen　tears　the　heart　weeps　are　bitterer　than　all　others。　You　reproach　me　for　having　received　you　when　you　returned　here　sick　and　wounded；　and　for　not　having　closed　my　doors　against　you。　I　know　well　that　was　my　duty；　and　a　thousand　times　I　have　prayed　to　God　on　my　knees　for　strength　to　do　this；　but　He　did　not　hear　me　or　He　had　no　mercy。　I　could　not　send　you　off；　had　my　lips　spoken　the　fearful　words；　the　shriek　of　my　heart　would　have　called　you　back。　My　lips　had　strength　to　refuse　an　answer　to　the　question　which　I　read　in　your　face；　in　your　deep　dejection；　but　my　heart　answered　you　in　silence　and　tears。　Like　you；　I　could　not　forgetlike　you　I　remembered　the　bounteous　sweet　past。　Now　you　know　allgo！　As　you　will　not　take　these　flow