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ifferent 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 flowers to the prince； they are yours； were intended for you； I have baptized them with my tears。 Farewell！〃
She gave him the flowers； and without looking toward him； without giving him time to answer； she stepped forward and called her chamberlain。
〃Count Saldow； be kind enough to accompany Count Kalkreuth； and give him the books and papers my husband has ordered。〃
Wilhelmina passed on proudly； calmly； with a smile on her lips； but no one knew what it cost her poor heart。 She did not look back。 Kalkreuth would have given years to take leave once more of the lovely face； to ask pardon for the hard； rude words he had dared to say。 The princess had still the bashful timidity of virtue； after the confession she had made she dared not look upon him。 The count controlled himself； he followed Saldow。 He was bewildered； rapturously giddy。 As he left the castle and entered his carriage he looked up at the window and said： 〃I will not die！I will return！〃… …then pressed the bouquet to his lips and sank back in the carriage。
CHAPTER VIII。
THE NUTSHELLS BEHIND THE FAUTEUIL OF THE QUEEN。
Princess Wilhelmina； as we have said； did not look back； she stepped silently through the ball…room； and approached the Princess Amelia。 She stood for a moment behind a couple who were dancing the Francaise。 The French officers had just taught this dance to the Prussian ladies as the newest Parisian mode。
It was a graceful and coquettish dance； approaching and avoiding； the ladies stood opposite their cavaliers； and advanced with smiling grace； then appeared to fly from them in mocking haste。 They were pursued in artistic tours by their cavaliers； at the end of the dance their hands were clasped in each other's； and they danced through the room with the graceful time and step of the minuet。
Princess Wilhelmina stood silent and unobservant； she knew not the dance was ended； she knew not that the music was silenced。 A softer； sweeter； dearer melody sounded in her ears； she heard the echo of that voice which had spoke