Maria Theresa

e face of the empress,

with a suppressed sigh

wn the rich masses of

ernly at the reflection

saw how Charlotte's h

. Again she raised her

that anger was unbecomi

but purple; and the s

wrinkle. Her bosom hea

i

A

ever again to find fav

les are the last glow

an I smile, when my he

loveliest woman he h

he knelt at my feet, a

indeed old, and n

ze her own features, th

y mass of puffs and b

ted for the day gave w

in her head, and, miser

und her cruelly. Start

of reproaches upon Char

n ever, repaired the d

f white roses. These w

the empress's face. Sh

ontrol, tore the flow

hem on t

Y

st me," cried the emp

o disfigure me, and ma

ch a ridiculous struc

e perambulating castle

let it not be such a r

rlo

d her mistress that the

She had nothing to do

er work

was at an end. The e

and convinced that she

or her tire woman. In

, rich embroidered t

e flashing with diam

urveyed both maids an

silence she reached o

d for high heeled shoe

ficent dress which enh

a word she dismissed

se task it was to giv

verything else had b

g

ore that high Venetian

e of regal beauty. For

oot; and at last – at

satisfaction, and a sm

er m

N

it is not so. I am ne

yet set forever. My F

younger women may be,

, and we will yet be h

n so lovely a woman a

s life as husband of t

metimes wanders from h

rn to me; for if I we

be valueless

rlo

stress with the comb in

d the plaintive tone

t lay a world of migh

ened as she thought th

empress had fancied h

re thus struggling into

rlotte from view, and a

nance as she aw

dd

nd putting her hand t

oice of indescribable

arry, never marry a man

inconstant fro

, beloved mistress,"

confidence. "I wish t

y's se

D

for a lifetime with my

. "You know, Charlot

my heart was bleeding

n anger, I must have s

ths of my heart, and w

y secret of my state c

r the regal mantle. A

ity. Go, now, Charlotte

's love for you. Tell

ring him here. Let the

on room, and tell the

ty that I request the

i

rlo

t the room, her hear

orrow for the empress

g encounter. "I will t

illed with tears, bu

roached, and the gover

e Ferdinand