ga, the nurse, her voice soft, yet full of emotion,
while she gazed into the face of the child that lay in her lap. Her soul
was already swayed by that mysterious bond of affection which never
fails to develop itself in the heart of the foster-mother. It is a noble
trait in human nature, that we love those on whom we can confer a
kindness. Their whole life gradually becomes interwoven with our own.

Walpurga became oblivious of herself and of all that was dear to her in
the cottage by the lake. She was now needed here, where a young life had
been assigned to her loving-charge.

She looked up at Mademoiselle Kramer, with beaming eyes, and met a
joyful glance in return.

"It seems to me," said Walpurga, "that a palace is just like a church.
One has only good and pious thoughts here; and all the people are so
kind and frank."

Mademoiselle Kramer suddenly smiled and replied:--

"My dear child--"

"Don't call me 'child'! I'm not a child! I'm a mother!"

"But here, in the great world, you are only a child. A court is a
strange place. Some go hunting, others go fishing; one builds, another
paints; one studies a role, another a piece of music; a dancer learns a
new step, an author writes a new book. Every one in the land is doing
something--cooking or baking, drilling or practicing, writing, painting,
or dancing--simply in order that the king and queen may be entertained."

"I understand you," said Walpurga; and Mademoiselle Kramer continued:--

"My family has been in the service of the court for sixteen
generations;"--six would have been the right number, but sixteen sounded
so much better;--"my father is the governor of the summer palace, and I
was born there. I know all about the court, and can teach you a
great deal."

"And I'll be glad to learn," interposed Walpurga.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Library Of The World's Best
Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol. 2, by Charles Dudley Warner

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORLD'S BEST LITERATURE ***

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