rs given by the assembly at
her appearance, and walked slowly down the long line of the deputations,
addressing a kind word or casting a grateful glance to every one, and
charming all by her beauty, gentleness, and majesty. Suddenly her
countenance brightened, and she approached a tall, stout gentleman
standing in the midst of the committee of the artists. "M. Manager
Iffland,"[50] she said, "let me bid you welcome. I expected to see you
here to-day, in order to express once more my thanks for the joy you
afforded me on my last birthday, and for the sufferings you underwent
for my sake. But I should like to hear an account of the event from your
own lips, and I ask of you, as a birthday present, to relate to me what
happened to you last year on this day."

[Footnote 50: The celebrated German actor.]

While uttering these words, the queen stepped back into the middle of
the hall, and thereby compelled Iffland to leave the committee, and
follow her. "Your majesty is really too kind to remember so
insignificant an occurrence," said Iffland, bowing respectfully. "I was
on that day only so happy as to give expression to the feelings
animating all. 'Queen Louisa, our royal lady!' that was the motto
encouraging us to bear up under the foreign yoke; it was our consolation
when we thought of his majesty, our beloved king. However galling our
chains might have been, we felt comfort. 'The royal lady is with him!'
we said to each other, and with grateful tears every one remembered his
queen."

"Yes, it is true," exclaimed the queen with feeling, "we met with much
love and fidelity during the years of affliction, and to-day I thank
from the bottom of my heart all those who were faithful to us." Her eyes
gazed long and affectionately on the brilliant circle of those
assembled, and she then turned again to Iffland. "Well, how was it on my
birthday last year?" she asked. "Tell me, but speak loudly, that every
one may hear."

"Last year on this day we were not as happy as we are to-day," said
Iffland. "Our queen was not with us, and we could not let her read in
our eyes the love and fidelity which we had been forbidden from
manifesting toward her by word or deed. The French authorities had
issued stringent orders everywhere, that the citizens should abstain
from any allusions to or recollections of our queen's birthday, and that
no demonstrations whatever should be made. We were obliged to submit to
the petty tyranny, but our heart