" cried Charles Henry. "Be
silent," said he to Fritz, "and let me sew."

But Fritz was not silent; he crouched near officer Buschman, and
whispered many and strange things in his ear.

Charles Henry sewed on zealously, blushed often, and replied in low,
embarrassed words.

At last the work was completed, and the knees of the great Frederick's
breeches were worthily mended with divers patches.

"I will carry them myself to the king, as I have a favor to ask him,"
said Fritz Kober. "Come with me, Charles Henry; you must hear what the
king says."

He took Charles Henry's hand and advanced to the door, but Deesen
stood there, and forbade him to enter; he ordered Fritz to give him the
breeches.

"No," said Fritz Kober, resolutely, "we have a request to make of the
king, and he once gave us permission to come directly to him when we had
a favor to ask."

He pushed Deesen aside and entered the room with Charles Henry.

The king sat in his bed reading, and was so absorbed that he did not see
them enter. But Fritz stepped up boldly to the bed and laid the breeches
upon the chair.

"Did you mend them, my son?" said the king.

"No, your majesty, Charles Buschman mended them, but I came along to say
something to your majesty. You remember, no doubt, what you said when we
returned from the enemy's camp near Kunersdorf, after the battle, when
Charles Henry related so beautifully all that we had seen and heard.
You said, 'You are both officers from this day, and if you ever need my
assistance call upon me freely.'"

"And you wish to do so now?" said the king.

"Yes, your majesty, I have something to ask."

"Well, what is it?"

Fritz Kober drew up grandly and ceremoniously.

"I ask your majesty to allow me to marry officer Charles Henry
Buschman--to marry him to-day!"

"Marry him!" said the king, amazed; "is, then, officer Buschman--"

"A woman, your majesty!" interrupted Fritz Kober, with joyful
impatience. "He is a woman; his name is Anna Sophia Detzloff, from
Brunen."

Frederick's sharp, piercing eye rested for a moment questioningly upon
Charles Henry's face; then nodding his head smilingly several times, he
said:

"Your bride is a spruce lad and a brave officer, and knows how to blush
in his soldier's uniform. Officer Charles Henry Buschman, will you be
the wife of officer Fritz Kober?"

"I will, if your majesty consents," whispered Charles Henry.

"Well, go to the field-preacher, and be married--I giv