Luke Barnicott, and Other Stories

  CHAPTER V.--THE PRINCESS.

  The princess arrived at Barenburg Castle on the evening of the followingday. The housekeeper, in her most splendid attire, a violet silk dressand a splendid lace cap, together with the rest of the household,solemnly received her at the foot of the flight of steps leading intothe castle. The children witnessed the arrival from the little window ofthe porter's room, and even the free-minded Fritz felt a reverentialthrobbing of the heart, as he saw the carriage-step let down, and theprincess alight, wholly different in appearance to what he had expected;not a lofty, magnificent lady in a crimson silk dress and a little crownon her head, like Queen Esther or Pharaoh's daughter in the pictureBible, but a somewhat small, slender lady, in a grey silk dress andsimple white bonnet, which she took off, as she stood on thecastle-steps, gazing with agreeable surprise, as it seemed, on thebeautiful ancient structure and its charming surroundings. Her brownhair was simply parted under a small blond cap, and her blue eyesglanced so mildly from the delicate, pale countenance, that thechildren, seeming to forget that they had expected anything different,Mina whispered softly to Fritz, "But she must be very, very good,though."

  Whilst they were watching the princess, the servants assisted twobeautiful children from the carriage, who now joyously, and with anexclamation of astonishment, sprang up the castle steps; a boy and agirl, somewhat younger than Fritz and Mina, so richly and so elegantlydressed, that they could not have been mistaken for other than princelychildren.

  "But, mamma, is it not lovely? And shall we live here?" exclaimed thelittle girl.

  "Yes, my child," said the princess, and kissed her on the forehead.

  "Are there yet stags in the park," demanded the boy with a princely airfrom the respectful porter; "and can I have a gun here to shoot them?"

  The mother smiled, and seemed half-embarrassed by the commanding tonewhich her young son assumed.

  "There are the park-grounds belonging to the garden," said therevenue-warden of the district, who had come to the castle to receivethe princess, "and beyond lies the deer-park; the keeper who lives therewill be able to assist the young prince in the shooting of game."

  "That must be an arrogant young fellow," thought Fritz; yet he felt, asit were, attracted to him as he saw the handsome, frank countenance ofthe young Hugo, as, with his hand in his mother's, he entered thecastle.

  * * * * *

  It was late before Mrs. Walter, who had been in attendance on theprincely guests in the suite of rooms prepared for their reception,returned to her own parlour.

  "The gracious lady," said she, in a business-like tone, "has onlybrought with her a single waiting-woman for herself and a maid for thechildren; there was everything to do, therefore, and I was needed tohelp."

  "No ladies of the court, and no servants?" asked Mina, astonished.

  "What sort of a princess is she, then, Mrs. Dote?" asked Fritz, who hadbeen studying in the calendar the geneology of the princely house. "Sheis not, after all, then, the wife of the reigning prince; and there isno wife mentioned as belonging to the late prince."

  "Well, children," said Mrs. Walter, after a moment's silentconsideration, "you have sense enough for me to explain to you exactlyhow it is with the princess. She is really the wife of the crown-prince,now deceased, and is herself of a noble house, though not noble enoughto please the old prince, and therefore he would never acknowledge themarriage. His son, however, always believed he would do so. He thoughthis papa would yield his prejudices, because the lady was so lovely anda very angel for goodness. But it was not, and never will be right, whenchildren go counter to the will of their parents, and when young peoplethink they know what is best;--you remember that as long as you live!However, they were married whilst the old prince was on a long journeyabroad; when he returned, therefore, he was dreadfully angry, and wouldnot acknowledge the marriage. The noble young crown-prince would notleave his wife; so, for the sake of peace and quietness, they livedabroad, where he died of nervous fever two years ago, without beingreconciled with his father, from which misfortune our Lord preserve allyoung people! The princess returned to this country and lived veryretired, and I have heard that the old prince would not even hear thechildren spoken of. However, as this old castle is now appointed fortheir residence, I think it a good sign."

  That which Mrs. Walter thus related made the princess very interestingto the children.

  "Do you know, Mina," said Fritz to his sister that same evening, "Ishall never be envious of anybody in this world again."

  "Were you envious, then?" asked she.

  "Well, it was in this way," returned he. "When I saw those handsomechildren, in their beautiful dresses, bounding up the castle-steps, Ithought to myself, 'They are quite at home now, where we dare only takea little peep; they have everything so nice, yet I don't know that theyare any better than we.'"

  "Did you really think so!" said Mina amazed.

  "Now, however, I think," returned he, "how well off we are. Father andmother are happy together, grand-parents, and everybody love oneanother, but those poor things have lost their father, and they dare notsee their grandfather."

  "Perhaps it will all come right," said Mina consolingly "I should liketo see that lovely princess again."

  "But she must be only addressed as--most gracious lady," said Mrs. Dote.