d, stroked my hair and smiled; but my father took my hand, led
me away, and said I was very rude, and that he should never take me
there again. I grew utterly bewildered. The blood mounted to my
cheeks, for I felt that my father had been unjust to me. I looked at
the Princess as if she ought to shield me, but upon her face was only
an expression of mild earnestness. Then I looked round upon the ladies
and gentlemen assembled in the room, believing that they would come to
my defense. But as I looked, I saw that they were laughing. Then the
tears sprang into my eyes, and out of the door, down the stairs, and
past the lindens in the castle yard, I rushed home, where I threw
myself into my mother's arms and sobbed and wept.

"What has happened to you?" said she.

"Oh! mother!" I cried; "I was at the Princess', and she was such a good
and beautiful woman, just like you, dear mother, that I had to throw my
arms round her neck and kiss her."

"Ah!" said my mother; "you should not have done that, for they are
strangers and high dignitaries."

"And what then are strangers?" said I.

"May I not love all people who look upon me with affectionate and
friendly eyes?"

"You can love them, my son," replied my mother, "but you should not
show it."

"Is it then something wrong for me to love people?" said I. "Why
cannot I show it?"

"Well, perhaps you are right," said she, "but you must do as your
father says, and when you are older you will understand why you cannot
embrace every woman who regards you with affectionate and friendly
eyes."

That was a sad day. Father came home, agreed I had been very uncivil.
At night my mother put me to bed, and I prayed, but I could not sleep,
and kept wondering what these strange people were, whom one must not
love.

* * * * *

Thou poor human heart! So soon in the spring are thy leaves broken and
the feathers torn from the wings! When the spring-red of life opens
the hidden calyx of the soul, it perfumes our whole being with love.
We learn to stand and to walk, to speak and to read, but no one teaches
us love. It is inherent in us like life, they say, and is the very
deepest foundation of our existence. As the heavenly bodies incline to
and attract each other, and will always cling together by the
everlasting law of gravitation, so heavenly souls incline to and
attract each other, and will always cling together by the everlasting
law of love. A