ties so."

"Your highness should carry home with you a lasting memento of these
days," whispered the courtier.

"What mean you, Count Doenhof?"

"I believe that if you were to ask the hand of Princess Hildegarde,
their Majesties would cheerfully grant you their consent and bestow upon
you a royal bride."

Gravely the Elector shook his head. "No," he said solemnly--"no, Count
Doenhof, so long as I can not govern my land in peace, I dare seek no other
bride than my own good sword." [54]

And smilingly, as if he had heard nothing, as if nothing uncommon had
happened, the Elector returns to the conservatory.

The Princess Hildegarde also smiles, looks cheerful and happy, and dances
with all the cavaliers. But not with the Elector! He does not approach her
again.

She seems not to perceive this, and maintains her cheerfulness, even when
at last he approaches the Princesses to take leave of them.

"Farewell, Sir Elector! May you have a prosperous journey home and be
happy!" So say her lips. What says her heart?

That nobody knows. The Princess has a tender but proud heart! Only at
night was heard a low sobbing and wailing in the Princess's chamber. When
morning broke though it was hushed. That is the deepest grief which must
shun the light of day, and only find vent and expression in the curtained
darkness of night.

Poor Hildegarde! Poor King's daughter! Scorned! The Emperor's grandchild
scorned by the little Elector of Brandenburg!

He has returned home; he has shaken from his feet the dust of that
humbling pilgrimage. The States of the duchy of Prussia had long delayed
swearing allegiance to the Elector, feeling that they had been aggrieved
as to their rights and privileges. Now at last all difficulties had been
adjusted and the deputies of Prussia were ready to do homage to their
Duke. Upon an open tribune before the palace stood the Elector, with bared
head and radiant countenance, and in front of him at the foot of the
throne the deputies from his duchy. They swore faithfulness and devotion,
and, as in Warsaw, so in Koenigsberg the bells rang, and trumpets and drums
sent forth triumphant sounds. The roar of cannon announced to Koenigsberg
and all Prussia that to-day the Duke and his States were joined in a
compact of concord, love, and unity!

"Leuchtmar," said the Elector, inclining toward the friend whom
he had summoned from Sweden, on purpose to be present at this
festivity--"Leuchtmar, in this hour th