"And yet it is better to-day," she murmured, "I am richer now than I was
then. My heart is richer, my soul is stronger, I--"

"Mamma," exclaimed the Princess Charlotte, "I see already the Bernauer
gate! Oh, hear the shouts, look at that triumphal arch!"

The queen turned her eyes toward the city. The cheers of the people
sounded in her ears like the early greetings of her happiness, and
filled her soul with ecstasy. As the king, between his sons, rode into
the gateway, the bells rang, and the cannon shook the ground. When the
queen's carriage entered, the soldiers formed in line on both sides of
the street, and behind them surged a dense crowd of men and women.
Nothing was to be seen but happy, smiling faces; love was beaming from
every eye, and with bells, cannon, waving hands, and the cheers of her
citizens, Berlin greeted the return of her sovereigns.

The king acknowledged these demonstrations with a grave, thoughtful
face; he saluted the people affectionately, but his countenance grew
sad. He thought of the many faithful subjects whom he had lost, of the
cities and provinces which had been taken from him, of the grievous and
bloody sacrifices of the last years; he remembered that he was returning
to his ancestors, possessed only of the smaller portion of the
inheritance which they had left him, and these reflections overshadowed
his joy.

The queen only felt and thought of the happiness of her return. These
thousands of hearts throbbing for her, this crowd of greeting men about
her carriage to see her and shout words of welcome, filled her soul with
profound emotion. She did not restrain her tears, and was not ashamed of
this expression of her feelings. She wept, smiled, and rejoiced with her
people.

When the cheers reechoed through the street as she passed, the queen
exclaimed aloud: "What grateful music this is! It sounds in my ears as
sacred, and the city seems a vast cathedral! Charlotte, my beloved
daughter, listen! but with a devout heart. There is hardly any thing
more solemn and yet delightful to a princess than the cheers of her
subjects. She who deserves them must return the people's love, and
sympathize in their joys and sufferings. My daughter, if you yourself
should one day wear a crown, think of this hour, and let the affection
of the people now occupy your heart.--But, my child, there is our house,
the dear old house where you children were born! What persons are
standing in front of it? Who