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f love she had made to the departing soldier belonged now to the returned nobleman！ But her husband's confidence had shorn the meeting of all its terror； and made the road she had to travel easy。
The count bowed deeply before her and pressed her hand to his lips。 She returned the pressure of his hand； and； as he raised his head and fixed an almost imploring glance upon her； he encountered her eyes beaming with unutterable love。
The court assembly stood in groups； looking with cold； inquisitive eyes at the piquant scene the prince in the innocence of his heart had prepared for themwhich was to them an inimitable jest； an excellent amusement。 They all knewwhat the prince did not for a moment suspectthat Count Kalkreuth adored the princess。 They now desired to see if this love was returned by the princess； or suffered by her as a coquette。
None had gazed at this scene with such breathless sympathy； such cruel joy； as Madame du Trouffle。 Being one of the usual circle at Rheinsberg； she had been invited by the princess to the present fete； and it seemed to her very amusing to receive her own husband； not at their home； but at the castle of her former lover。 Major du Trouffle was on the prince's staff； and had accompanied him to Rheinsberg。
Louise had not as yet found time to greet her husband。 Her glance was fixed eagerly upon the princess； she noticed her every movement； her every look； she watched every smile； every quiver of her lip。 Her husband stood at her sidehe had been there for some time； greeting her in low； tender wordsbut Louise did not attend to him。 She seemed not to see him； her whole soul was in her eyes； and they were occupied with the princess。 Suddenly she turns her sparkling eyes upon her husband and murmurs。 〃He is lost！ His laurels will be insufficient to cover the brand which from to…day on will glow upon his brow！〃 Her husband looked at her in amazement。
〃Is this your welcome； after seven long years of absence； Louise？〃 said he； sadly。
She laid her hand hastily upon his arm； saying； 〃Hush； hush！〃 Once more she gazed at the princess； who was talking and laughing gayly with her husband and Count Kalkreuth。 〃How her cheeks glow； and what tender glances she throws him！〃 murmured Louise。 〃Ah！ the prince has fallen a victim to his ingenuousness！ Verily； he is again praising the merits of his friend。 He tells her how Kalkreuth saved his life… …how he received the blow meant for his own head。 Poor prince！ You will pay dearly for the wound Kalkreuth received for you。 I said； and I repeat ithe is lost！〃
Her husband looked at her as if he feared she had gone mad during his absence。 〃Of whom do you speak； Louise？〃 whispered he。 〃What do you mean？ Will you not speak one word of welcome to me to convince me that you know methat I have not become a stranger to you？〃 The princess now arose from her seat； and leaning on her husband's arm she passed through the room； talking merrily with Count Kalkreuth at her side。 〃They have gone to the conservatory；〃 said Louise； grasping her husband's arm。 〃We will also go and find some quiet； deserted place where we can talk undisturbed。〃
CHAPTER III。
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER。
Louise du Trouffle drew her husband onward； and they both followed silently the great crowd which was now entering the splendidly illuminated conservatories。 The view offered to the eye was superb。 You seemed to be suddenly transplanted as if by magic from the stiff； ceremonious court…saloons into the fresh； fragrant； blooming world of nature。 You breathed with rapture the odor of those rare and lovely flowers which were arranged in picturesque order between the evergreen myrtles and oranges。 The windows； and indeed the ceiling were entirely covered with vines； and seemed to give color to the illusion that you were really walking in an open alley。 Colored Chinese balloons attached to fine chains； fell from the ceiling； and seemed to float like gay butterflies between the trees and flowers。 They threw their soft； faint； many…colored lights through these enchanting halls； on each side of which little grottoes had been formed by twining together myrtles； palms； and fragrant bushes。 Each one of these held a little grass…plot； or green divan； and these were so arranged that the branches of the palms were bent down over the seats； and concealed those who rested there behind a leafy screen。
To one of these grottoes Louise now led her husband。 〃We will rest here awhile；〃 said she。 〃This grotto has one advantageit lies at the corner of the wall and has but one open side； and leafy bushes are thickly grouped about it。 We have no listeners to fear； and may chat together frankly and harmlessly。 And now； first of all； welcome； my husbandwelcome to your home！〃
〃God be thanked； LouiseGod be thanked that you have at last known how to speak one earnest word； and welcome me to your side！ Believe me； when I say that through all these weary years； each day I have rejoiced at the thought of this moment。 It has been my refreshment and my consolation。 I truly believe that the thought of you and my ardent desire to see you was a talisman which kept death afar off。 It seemed to me impossible to die without seeing you once more。 I had a firm conviction that I would live through the war and return to you。 Thus I defied the balls of the enemy； and have returned to repose on your heart； my beloved wifeafter the storms and hardships of battle to fold you fondly in my arms and never again to leave you。〃 He threw his arms around her waist； and pressed his lips with a tender kiss upon her mouth。
Louise suffered this display of tenderness for one moment； then slipped lightly under his arms and retreated a few steps。
〃Do you know；〃 said she； with a low laugh； 〃that was a true； respectable husband's kiss； without energy and without fire； not too cold； not too warmthe tepid； lukewarm tenderness of a husband who really loves his wife； and might be infatuated about her； if she had not the misfortune to be his wife？〃
〃Ah！ you are still the old Louise；〃 said the major merrily； 〃still the gay； coquettish； unsteady butterfly； who； with its bright； variegated wings； knows how to escape； even when fairly caught in the toils。 I love you just as you are； Louise； I rejoice to find you just what I left you。 You will make me young again； child； by your side I will learn again to laugh and be happy。 We have lost the power to do either amidst the fatigues and hardships of our rude campaigns。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Louise； 〃we dismissed you； handsome； well…formed cavaliers； and you return to us clumsy； growling bears； good…humored but savage pets； rather too willing to learn again to dance and sing。 The only question is； will the women consent to become bear… leaders； and teach the uncultivated pets their steps？〃
〃Well； they will be obliged to do this；〃 said the major； laughing。 〃It is their duty。〃
〃Dear friend； if you begin already to remind us of our duty； I fear your cause is wholly lost。 Come； let us sit here awhile upon this grass plot and talk together。〃
〃Yes； you will be seated； but I do not see exactly why we should talk together。 I would much rather close your laughing； rosy lips with kisses。〃 He drew her to his side； and was about to carry out this purpose； but Louise waved him off。
〃If you do not sit perfectly quiet by my side；〃 said she； 〃I will unfold the gay wings； of which you have just spoken； and fly far away！〃
〃Well； then； I will sit quietly； but may I not be permitted to ask my shy prudish mistress why I must do so？〃
〃Why？ Well； because I wish to give my savage pet his first lecture after his return。 The lecture begins thus： When a man remains absent from his wife seven years； he has no right to return as a calm； confident； self…assured husband； with his portion of home…baked tenderness； he should come timidly； as a tender； attentive； enamoured cavalier； who woos his mistress and draws near to her humbly； tremblingly； and submissivelynot looking upon her as his wife； but as the fair lady whose love he may hope to win。〃
〃But why； Louise； should we take refuge in such dissimulation； when we are assured of your love？〃
〃You are assured of nothing！ How can you be so artless as to believe that