ilhelmine, you
will soon be able to do whatever you like, you may read French books,
dance the minuet, keep an entire orchestra of musicians. I have arranged
all things for your happiness and for your freedom.

[Illustration: KING FREDERICK WILLIAM I OF PRUSSIA R. SIEMERING]

WILHELMINE. How may I understand this, father?

KING.

You will have horses and carriages, and footmen, as becomes a future
Queen.

WILHELMINE.

Queen?

KING.

You will see that I do in very truth deserve the name you gave me, the
name of the best of fathers. But still--I hear your mother.

WILHELMINE.

What--what is going to happen--

KING.

Prepare yourself for a weighty moment--the moment of your betrothal.

SCENE III

_The_ QUEEN _comes in, leaning on the arm of the_ PRINCE OF BAIREUTH.
HOTHAM _and several lackeys follow_.

WILHELMINE (_aside, surprised_).

The Prince!

[_The_ QUEEN _bows coldly to the_ KING.]

KING (_equally coldly_).

Good morning.

QUEEN (_to the_ PRINCESS).

My dear child, I here present to you the Envoy of the King of England,
Baronet Hotham.

WILHELMINE (_bows, speaks aside_).

The Prince's friend? How am I to understand all this?

KING.

Pardon me, wife, the Prince of Baireuth should take precedence. My dear
child, I present to you here the Prince Hereditary of Baireuth.

PRINCE (_bows, speaks aside to_ WILHELMINE).

Do not lose courage. It will all work out for the best.

QUEEN.

Have you good news from Ansbach, dear Prince?

PRINCE. (_aside_).

This eternal mistake of hers. [_Aloud_.] Your Majesty, I hear there is a
plan on foot to transplant Ansbach to Baireuth.

KING. (_has been only half listening_).

Hush! Let us cast aside all these earthly thoughts and plans and
prepare ourselves for a work of sacred import. Sit down by your mother,
Wilhelmine.

WILHELMINE.

What is going to happen?

KING.

You, Prince, as my natural aide--here! Baronet Hotham, you are in the
centre.

[_The lackeys place the table in the centre of the room and then go
off._]

PRINCE (_aside_).

Hotham--the commercial treaties--

[HOTHAM _sits down at the centre of the table, opens the portfolio which
he has brought with him, lays out sheets of paper, and examines his
pen._]

KING (_folding his hands_).

In God's name--[_After a pause_] If I should ask you, my faithful
spouse, companion of my life, what a happy marriage is--

QUEEN.

Has that anything to do with our daughter'