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end the new feelings and new wishes which were struggling there。
At times he stood still； and looked with a wild； rapt expression into the heavens； as if they alone could answer the mysterious questions his soul was whispering to him； then passed on with his hand pressed on his brow to control or restrain the thoughts which agitated him。 He did not hear a light tap upon the door； he did not see it open； and his most intimate and dearest friend； Count Kalkreuth enter； dressed in the full costume of a shepherd。
Count Kalkreuth stood still； and did nothing to call the attention of the prince to his presence。 He remained at the door； his face was also dark and troubled； and the glance which he fixed upon Prince Henry was almost one of hatred。
The prince turned； and the count's expression changed instantly； he stepped gayly forward and said：
〃Your royal highness sees my astonishment at finding you lost in such deep thought； and your toilet not even commenced。 I stand like Lot's blessed wife； turned to stone upon your threshold！ Have you forgotten； my prince； that you commanded us all to be ready punctually at four o'clock？ The castle clock is at this moment striking four。 The ladies and gentlemen will now assemble in the music…saloon； as you directed； and you； prince； are not yet in costume。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Prince Henry； somewhat embarrassed； 〃I had forgotten； but I will hasten to make good my fault。〃
He stepped slowly； and with head bowed down； toward his dressing… room； at the door； he stood and looked back at the count。
〃You are already in costume； my friend；〃 said he； noticing for the first time the fantastic dress of the count。 〃Truly； this style becomes you marvellously； your bright…colored satin jacket shows your fine proportions as advantageously as your captain's uniform。 But what means this scarf which you wear upon your shoulder？〃
〃These are the colors of my shepherdess；〃 said the count； with a constrained smile。
〃Who is your shepherdess？〃
〃Your highness asks that； when you yourself selected her！〃 said Kalkreuth； astonished。
〃Yes it is true； I forgot；〃 said the prince。 〃The princess； my wife； is your shepherdess。 Well； I sincerely hope you may find her highness more gay and gracious than she was to me this morning； and that you may see the rare beauty of this fair rose； of which I only feel the thorns！〃
While the prince was speaking； the count became deathly pale； and looked at him with painful distrust。
〃It is true；〃 he replied； 〃the princess is cold and reserved toward her husband。 Without doubt； this is the result of a determination to meet your wishes fully； and to remain clearly within the boundary which your highness at the time of your marriage； more than a year ago； plainly marked out for her。 The princess knows； perhaps too well； that her husband is wholly indifferent to her beauty and her expression； and therefore feels herself at liberty to yield to each changeful mood without ceremony in your presence。〃
〃You are right；〃 said Prince Henry； sadly； 〃she is wholly indifferent to me； and I have told her so。 We will speak no more of it。 What； indeed； are the moods of the princess to me？ I will dress； go to the music…saloon； and ask for forgiveness in my name for my delay。 I will soon be ready； I will seek the princess in her apartments； and we will join you in a few moments。〃
The prince bowed and left the room。 Kalkreuth gazed after him thoughtfully and anxious。
〃His manner is unaccountably strange to…day；〃 whispered he。 〃Has he； perhaps； any suspicion； and these apparently artless questions and remarks this distraction and forgetfulnessBut no； no！ it is impossible； he can know nothingno one has betrayed me。 It is the anguish of my conscience which makes me fearful； this suffering I must bear； it is the penalty I pay for my great happiness。〃 The count sighed deeply and withdrew。
The prince completed his toilet； and sought the princess in her apartment； in the other wing of the castle。 With hasty steps he passed through the corridors； his countenance was anxious and expectant； his eyes were glowing and impatient； haste marked every movement； he held in his hand a costly bouquet of white camelias。 When he reached the anteroom of the princess he became pallid； and leaned for a moment； trembling and gasping for breath； against the wall； he soon； however； by a strong effort； controlled himself； entered； and commanded the servant to announce him。
The Princess Wilhelmina received her husband with a stiff； ceremonious courtesy； which； in its courtly etiquette； did not correspond with the costume she had assumed。 The proud and stately princess was transformed into an enchanting； lovely shepherdess。 It was； indeed； difficult to decide if the princess were more beautiful in her splendid court toilet； adorned with diamonds； and wearing on her high； clear brow a sparkling diadem； proud and conscious of her beauty and her triumphs； or now； in this artistic costume； in which she was less imposing； but more enchanting and more gracious。
Wilhelmina wore an under…skirt of white satin； a red tunic； gayly embroidered and festooned with white roses； a white satin bodice； embroidered with silver； defined her full but pliant form； and displayed her luxurious bust in its rare proportions； a bouquet of red roses was fastened upon each shoulder； and held the silvery veil which half concealed the lovely throat and bosom。 The long； black； unpowdered hair fell in graceful ringlets about her fair neck； and formed a dark frame for the beautiful face； glowing with health； youth； and intellect。 In her hair she wore a wreath of red and white roses； and a bouquet of the same in her bosom。
She was； indeed； dazzling in her beauty； and was； perhaps； conscious of her power； her eyes sparkled； and a ravishing smile played upon her lips as she looked up at the prince； who stood dumb and embarrassed before her； and could find no words to express his admiration。
〃If it is agreeable to your highness； let us join your company；〃 said the princess； at last； anxious to put an end to this interview。 She extended her hand coolly to her husband； he grasped it； and held it fast； but still stood silently looking upon her。
〃Madame；〃 said he； at last； in low and hesitating tones〃madame； I have a request to make of you。〃
〃Command me； my husband；〃 said she； coldly； 〃what shall I do？〃
〃I do not wish to command； but to entreat；〃 said the prince。
〃Well； then； Prince Henry； speak your request。〃
The prince gave the bouquet of white camelias to his wife； and said； in a faltering； pleading voice； 〃I beg you to accept this bouquet from me； and to wear it to…day in your bosom； although it is not your shepherd who offers it！〃
〃No； not my shepherd； but my husband；〃 said the princess； removing angrily the bouquet of roses from her bodice。 〃I must； of course； wear the flowers he gives me。〃
Without giving one glance at the flowers； she fastened them in her bosom。
〃If you will not look upon them for my sake；〃 said the prince； earnestly； 〃I pray you； give them one glance for the flowers' sake。 You will at least feel assured that no other shepherdess is adorned with such a bouquet。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Wilh