altry king of
chess, about an indolent, cowardly despot, who is only born to be
protected by his people; and if ever compelled to act himself, moves in
a narrow, pitiful circle. It is quite consistent that such a king
should take the only important step in his life with the utmost
caution, and avoid doing it if there is the least appearance of danger.
_My_ king, indeed, would not recognise himself in this picture."

"What does the fellow mean by talking about _his_ king?" muttered the
old baron. "Our gracious sovereign is the elector of Saxony."

"But not mine," was Axel's proud reply. "I have the honour to be a
Swede."

"For heaven's sake, Magister, tell me whence this fellow gets his
pride, and bold words?" asked the baron softly.

"Why, I have already had my meditations on that subject," replied he,
with a shake of the head; and the old baron said, in a commanding tone
to Axel: "There's your wine, but you shall drink to the health of our
lord elector."

"Most joyfully," replied Axel, filling a bumper, and raising it in the
air; "here's to the health of your noble elector, and my heroic king,
and may the concluded alliance prove a blessing to Saxony and to Sweden
for many generations to come."

"Well, that is something new again," replied the baron, sarcastically;
"I suppose you were in the cabinet when the alliance was concluded.
Unfortunately we have not come to that yet."

"We have come to it, my lord," replied Axel, familiarly tapping the
baron on the shoulder; "your elector is no chess king, who is afraid to
take a quick and decisive step that shall decide the welfare of his
land."

He went away, and the two old gentlemen sat, struck with astonishment,
staring at each other, like the pair of lions at Dresden.

In melancholy mood, Tugendreich was standing before an old decayed
shaft, to which her walk had brought her, and her maid, like Fraeulein's
little spaniel, was crawling about among the bushes in search of
something. At this moment Talander came up to them, laden with a large
bundle of plants on his return from botanising. To his inquiries, as
to what they were in search of, Tugendreich informed him, that, in
running down a hill, she had laid hold of a branch, and twisted from
her finger a beautiful sapphire ring, a beloved legacy of her late
mother, which had probably rolled into the shaft, as they had at
present searched for it in vain.

"Oh, what youthful levity!" replied the magister, i