按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
young lad of about her own ageKarl Gustav； her cousin。 The
scandalized bearer of dispatches to the Swedish Council of
Regents shook himself free from the girl's strong grasp and
seizing her by the shoulder； demanded； sternly：
〃How now； young mistress！ Is this seemly conduct toward a
stranger and an imperial courier？〃
The girl now for the first time noticed the presence of a
stranger。 Too excited in her mad dash into the room to
distinguish him from one of the palace servants； she only learned
the truth by the courier's harsh words。 A sudden change came over
her。 She drew herself up haughtily and said to the attendant：
〃And who is this officious stranger； Klas？
The tone and manner of the question again surprised the courier；
and he looked at the speaker； amazed。 What he saw was an
attractive young girl of thirteen； short of stature； with bright
hazel eyes； a vivacious face； now almost stern in its expression
of pride and haughtiness。 A man's fur cap rested upon the mass of
tangled light…brown hair which； tied imperfectly with a simple
knot of ribbon； fell down upon her neck。 Her short dress of plain
gray stuff hung loosely about a rather trim figure； and a black
scarf； carelessly tied； encircled her neck。 In short； he saw a
rather pretty； carelessly dressed； healthy； and just now very
haughty…looking young girl； who seemed more like a boy in speech
and manners；and one who needed to be disciplined and curbed。
Again the question came： 〃Who is this man； and what seeks he
here； Klas？ I ask。〃
〃 'T is a courier with dispatches for the council； Madam；〃
replied the man。
〃Give me the dispatches；〃 said the girl； 〃I will attend to them。〃
〃You； indeed！〃 The courier laughed grimly。 〃The dispatches from
the Emperor of Germany are for no hairbrained maid to handle。
These are to be delivered to the Council of Regents alone。〃
〃I will have naught of councils or regents； Sir Courier； save
when it pleases me；〃 said the girl； tapping the floor with an
angry foot。 〃Give me the dispatches； I say；I am the King of
Sweden！〃
〃Youa girlking？〃 was all that the astonished courier could
stammer out。 Then； as the real facts dawned upon him； he knelt at
the feet of the young queen and presented his dispatches。
〃Withdraw； sir！〃 said Christina； taking the papers from his hand
with but the scant courtesy of a nod； 〃we will read these and
return a suitable answer to your master。〃
The courier withdrew； still dazed at this strange turn of
affairs； and Christina； leaning carelessly against the
council…table； opened the dispatches。
Suddenly she burst into a merry but scarcely lady…like laugh。
〃Ha； ha； ha！ this is too rare a joke； Karl；〃 she cried。 〃Lord
Chancellor； Mathias； Torstenson！〃 she exclaimed； as these members
of her council entered the apartment； 〃what think you？ Here come
dispatches from the Emperor of Germany begging that you； my
council； shall consider the wisdom of wedding me to his son and
thereby closing the war！ His son； indeed！ Ferdinand the Craven！〃
〃And yet； Madam；〃 suggested the wise Oxenstiern； 〃it is a matter
that should not lightly be cast aside。 In time you must needs be
married。 The constitution of the kingdom doth oblige you to。〃
〃Oblige！〃 and the young girl turned upon the gray…headed
chancellor almost savagely。 〃Oblige！ and who； Sir Chancellor；
upon earth shall OBLIGE me to do so； if I do it not of mine own
will？ Say not OBLIGE to me。〃
This was vigorous language for a girl of scarce fourteen； but it
was 〃Christina's way；〃 one with which both the Council and the
people soon grew familiar。 It was the Vasa＇1＇ nature in her； and
it was always prominent in this spirited young girlthe last
descendant of that masterful house。
＇1＇ Vasa was the family name of her father and the ancient king
of Sweden。
But now the young Prince Karl Gustavus had something to say。
〃Ah； cousin mine；〃 and he laid a strong though boyish hand upon
the young girl's arm。 〃What need for couriers or dispatches that
speak of suitors for your hand？ Am not I to be your husband？ From
babyhood you have so promised me。〃
Christina again broke into a loud and merry laugh。
〃Hark to the little burgomaster；〃＇1＇ she cried； 〃much travel hath
made him； I do fear me； soft in heart and head。 Childish
promises； Karl。 Let such things be forgotten now。 You are to be a
soldierI； a queen。〃
＇1＇ Prince Charles Gustavus； afterward Charles XI。； King of
Sweden； and father of the famous Charles XII。； was cousin to
Christina。 He was short and thick…set； and so like a little
Dutchman that Christina often called him 〃the little
burgomaster。〃 At the time of this sketch he had just returned
from a year of travel through Europe。
〃And yet； Madam；〃 said Mathias； her tutor； 〃all Europe hath for
years regarded Prince Karl as your future husband。〃
〃And what care I for that？〃 demanded the girl； hotly。 〃Have done；
have done； sirs！ You do weary me with all this。 Let us to the
hunt。 Axel Dagg did tell me of a fine roebuck in the Maelar
woods。 See you to the courier of the Emperor and to his
dispatches； Lord Chancellor； I care not what you tell him； if you
do but tell him no。 And； stay； where is that round little
Dutchman； Van Beunigen； whom you did complain but yesterday was
sent among us by his government to oppose the advices of our
English friends。 He is a greater scholar than horseman； or I
mistake。 Let us take him in our hunting…party； Karl； and see to
it that he doth have one of our choicest horses。〃
The girl's mischief was catching。 Her cousin dropped his serious
look； and； seeking the Dutch envoy； with due courtesy invited him
to join the Queen's hunt。
〃Give him black Hannibal； Jous；〃 Christina had said to her groom；
and when the Dutch envoy； Van Beunigen； came out to join the
hunting…party； too much flattered by the invitation to remember
that he was a poor horseman； Jous； the groom； held black Hannibal
in unsteady check； while the big horse champed and fretted； and
the hunting…party awaited the new member。
But Jous； the groom； noted the Dutchman's somewhat alarmed look
at the big black animal。
〃Would it not be well； good sir；〃 he said； 〃that you do choose
some steadier animal than Hannibal here？ I pray you let me give
you one less restive。 So； Bror Andersson；〃 he called to one of
the under…grooms； 〃let the noble envoy have your cob； and take
you back Hannibal to the stables。〃
But no； the envoy of the States of Holland would submit to no
such change。 He ride a servant's horse； indeed！
〃Why； sirrah groom；〃 he said to good…hearted Jous； 〃I would have
you know that I am no novice in the equestrian art。 Far from it；
man。 I have read every treatise on the subject from Xenophon
downward； and what horse can know more than I？〃
So friendly Jous had nothing more to say； but hoisted the
puffed…up Dutch scholar into the high saddle； and away gall