fore the beginning of their merry sports。 Hours passed before the princely pair joined their guests in the music…saloon。
The sun of royalty came at last； shedding light and gladness。 Never had the princess looked more beautifulmore rosy。 She seemed； indeed； to blush at the consciousness of her own attractions。 Never had Prince Henry appeared so happy； so triumphant； as to…day。 His flashing eyes seemed to challenge the whole world to compete with his happiness； joy and hope danced in his eyes； never had he given so gracious； so kindly a greeting to every guest； as to…day。
The whole assembly was bright and animated and gave themselves up heartily to the beautiful idyl for which they had met together under the shadow of the noble trees in the fragrant woods of Rheinsberg。 No gayer； lovelier shepherds and shepherdesses were ever seen in Arcadia； than those of Rheinsberg to…day。 They laughed； and jested； and performed little comedies； and rejoiced in the innocent sports of the happy moment。 Here wandered a shepherd and his shepherdess； chatting merrily； there； under the shadow of a mighty oak； lay a forlorn shepherd singing； accompanied by his zitter； a love…lorn ditty to his cruel shepherdess； who was leading two white lambs decked with ribbons； in a meadow near by； and replied to his tender pleading with mocking irony。 Upon the little lake； in the neighborhood of which they had assembled； the snow…white swans swam majestically to and fro。 The lovely shepherdesses stood upon the borders and enticed the swans around them； and laughed derisively at the shepherds who had embarked in the little boats； and were now driven sportively back in every direction； and could find no place to land。
Prince Henry loved this sort of fete； and often gave such at Rheinsberg； but never had he seemed to enjoy himself so thoroughly as to…day。 His guests generally sympathized in his happiness； but there was one who looked upon his joyous face with bitterness。 This was Louise du Trouffle； once Louise von Kleist； once the beloved of the prince。
She was married； and her handsome； amiable； and intelligent husband was ever by her side； but the old wounds still burned； and her pride bled at the contempt of the prince。 She knew he was ignorant of the great sacrifice she had been forced to makethat he despised； in place of admiring and pitying her。
The prince； in order to show his utter indifference； had invited her husband and herself to court。 In the pride of his sick and wounded heart； he resolved to convince the world that the beautiful Louise von Kleist had not scorned and rejected his love。 In her presence he resolved to show his young wife the most lover…like attentions； and prove to his false mistress that he neither sought nor fled from herthat he had utterly forgotten her。
But Louise was not deceived by this acting。 She understood him thoroughly； and knew better than the prince himself； that his indifference was assumed； and his contempt and scorn was a veil thrown over his betrayed and quivering heart to conceal his sufferings from her。 Louise had the courage to accept Prince Henry's invitations； and to take part in all the festivities with which he ostentatiously celebrated his happiness。 She had the courage to receive his cutting coldness； his cruel sarcasm； his contempt； with calm composure and sweet submission。 With the smile of a stoic； she offered her defenceless breast to his poisoned arrows； and even the tortures she endured were precious in her sight。 She was convinced that the prince had not relinquished or forgotten herthat his indifference and contempt was assumed to hide his living； breathing love。 For some time past the change in the manners and bearing of the prince had not escaped the sharp； searching glance of the experienced coquette。 For a long time he appeared not to see her now she felt that he did not see her。 He had been wont to say the most indifferent things to her in a fierce； excited tonenow he was self…possessed； and spoke to her softly and kindly。
〃The wound has healed；〃 said Louise du Trouffle to herself。 〃He no longer scorns because he no longer loves me。〃 But she did not know that he had not only ceased to love her； but loved another passionately。 This suspicion was excited； however； for the first time to…day。 In the flashing eye； the glad smile； the proud glance which he fixed upon his fair young wife； Louise discovered that Henry had buried the old love and a new one had risen from its ashes。 This knowledge tortured her heart in a wild storm of jealousy。 She forgot all considerations of prudence； all fear； even of the king。 She had been compelled to relinquish the hand of the prince； but she would not lose him wholly。 Perhaps he would return to her when he knew what a fearful offering she had made to him。 He would recognize her innocence； and mourn over the tortures he had inflicted during the last year。 She would try this！ She would play her last trump； and dare all with the hope of winning。
There stood the prince under the shadow of a large tree； gazing dreamily at his wife； who； with other shepherdesses； and her shepherd； Count Kalkreuth； was feeding the swans on the border of the lake。 The prince was alone； and Louise rashly resolved to approach him。 He greeted her with a slight nod； and turning his eyes again upon his wife； he said； carelessly； 〃Are you also here； Madame du Trouffle？〃
〃Your royal highness did me the honor to invite meI am accustomed to obey your wishes； and I am here。〃
〃That is kind；〃 said the prince； abstractedly； still glancing at the princess。
Louise sighed deeply； and stepping nearer； she said； 〃Are you still angry with me； my prince？ Have you never forgiven me？〃
〃What？〃 said the prince； quietly； 〃I do not remember that I have any thing to forgive。〃
〃Ah； I see！ you despise me still；〃 said Louise； excitedly； 〃but I will bear this no longer！ I will no longer creep about like a culprit； burdened with your curse and your scorn。 You shall at least know what it cost me to earn your contemptwhat a tearful sacrifice I was compelled to make to secure your supposed personal happiness。 I gave up for you the happiness of my life； but I can and will no longer fill a place of shame in your memory。 If； from time to time； your highness thinks of me； you shall do me justice！〃
〃I think no longer of you in anger；〃 said the prince； smiling。 〃That sorrow has long since passed away。〃
〃From your heart； prince； but not from mine！ My heart bleeds； and will bleed eternally！ You must not only forgiveyou must do me justice。 Listen； then： and so truly as there is a God above us； I will speak the truth。 I did not betray youI was not faithless。 My heart and my soul I laid gladly at your feet； and thanked God for the fulness of my happiness。 My thoughts； my existence； my future； was chained to you。 I had no other will； no other wish； no other hope。 I was your slaveI wanted nothing but your love。〃
〃Ah； and then came this Monsieur du Trouffle； and broke your fettersgave your heart liberty and wings for a new flight；〃 said Prince Henry。
〃No； then came the king and commanded me to give you up；〃 murmured Louise； 〃then came the king； and forced me to offer up myself and my great love to your future welfare。 Oh； my prince！ recall that terrible hour in which we separated。 I said to you that I had betrothed myself to Captain du Troufflethat of my own free choice； and influenced by love alone； I gave myself to him。〃
〃I remember that hour。〃
〃Well； then； in that hour we were not alone。 The king was concealed behind the portiere； and listened to my words。 He dictated them！he threatened me with destruction if I betrayed his presence by look or word； if I gave you reason to suspect that I did not； of my own choice and lovingly； give myself to this unloved； yes； this hated man！ I yielded only after the most fearful contest with the king； to whom； upon my knees and bathed in tears； I pleaded for pity。〃
〃What means could the king use； what threats could he utter； which forced you to such a step？〃 said the prince； incredulously。 〃Did he threaten you with death if you did not obey？ When one truly loves； death has no terrors！ Did he say he would murder me if you did not release me？ You knew I had a strong arm and a stronger will； you should have trusted both。 You placed your fate in my hands； you should have obeyed no other commands than mine。 And now shall I speak the whole truth？ I do not believe in this sacrifice on your part； it would have required more than mortal strength； and it would have been cruel in the extreme。 You saw what I suffered。 My heart was torn with anguish！ No； madame； no； you did not make this sacrifice； or； if you did； you loved me not。 If you had loved me； you could not have seen me suffer so cruelly； you would have told the truth； even in the presence of the king。 No earthly power can control true love； she is self…sustained and makes her own laws。 No！ no！ I do not believe in this offering； and you make this excuse either to heal my sick heart； or because your pride is mortified at my want of consideration； you wish to recover my good opinion。〃
〃Alas！ alas！ he does not believe me；〃 cried Louise。
〃No； I do not believe you；〃 said the prince； kindly； 〃and yet you must