Maria Theresa

and princesses of Aus

ate parlor. They were

st, held little Ferdi

lds of their mother's

d a few steps farther

Near the open harpsich

Elizabeth, who now an

rument, while she awa

iled upon her childre

ed pai

h

ng of the emperor, and

o Elizabeth, who seat

opened and on the thre

orm of the Em

zab

lcome,: and all the o

live our emperor, o

dren; but clear above

ir mother, exclaiming

emperor, and my husb

's heart had been stru

st passionate songs; w

mpanied her mother wi

looked more enchanti

gave one look of love

h

for a moment the grou

forward, and bending o

at held the baby, and

pture at her su

B

ress," said the emper

this charmi

h

ot fire, but in lieu o

ess Josepha, who was j

nd said: "Josepha, t

we celebr

h

her father, said "Tod

ing

O

ed the emperor, "and

O

said the empress, "I

joyous anniversary.

t, and the presence of

t remembrance, and carr

ays of our

a

most tearful, as she s

ched and humbled at

change the subject.

if all our other chi

nt from this happy

H

nd obstinate again," s

, " and his governor,

ay

h

e door. "Surely," he

my dear children are a

uld be the first t

ta

had no intention of a

his embarrassment. "Yo

eror of Austria, whose

t some years postponed

ather to remind me, on

to being to think of

h

amazed. Although he

of his wife, he search

intense bitterness

empress mindful of her

d her bes

h

thoughtfully as he wa

t right with thee, The

not like

V

empress sharply. "the

ren. One day they will

hey will avenge the in

h

elt that her smothered

missed her children, a

he governess of the ba

her

a storm," thought th

eresa came quickly bac

A

said Maria Theresa b

ay? Not a throb of your

pa

M

to dates, Theresa,"

ly the anniversary of o

I celebrate the hour

eiress of Austria, an

the poor Duke of L

utiful Theresa; come

lessing that I owe to y

s forget royalty fo

eth

wife, but she drew ba

rrassed and confident t

at her faithless spou

the part of the devot

nse of

ea

you to pretend the on

when you have been cha

ga

emperor wearily. "W

by these absurd and g

undl

ing the letter violentl

lt confronting you, yo

ealous with

ll

r majesty, what this

I

written a letter to a

most beautiful wo

f saying such a thing

ajesty should encoura

ble tales," replied t

ike you, the reigning

lly find no time to

nda

Y

ent upon affairs which

ress here, and it is

o them; certainly not

ate, employ your leisur

to my su

I

e letter?"

H

ried the outraged em

ning you sent Gaspardi

ra

N

n it," replied the

Theresa remarked that

ed he

Y

u sent the letter, an

Y

wer," said the empero

he

ndered the enraged w

rdi m

A

sa, that you have rea

e emperor in

N

have not re

B

the emperor, taking i

o break the seal of t

e

W

eak the seal of a let

n

so mild toward his wi

lashing with anger. Ma

ked earnestly at him,

een him look so hand

pleasure that her Fran

ly angry

letter, but I swear to

replied. "I wished

ure was enough to con

outrages an empress by

iva

T

ed you of this?"

I

i

A

d nothi

ot

ll y

he

mperor, seriously, han

to read the whole of

need not

h

helmed. "You want me

sed to

rta

my valet, you broke it

read it aloud, for I

se

cried the empress sco

ot suppress a word

R

the empero

h

loud and ang

T

s Majesty,

o

e by asking my advice

t your majesty is much

racious master, the

mple of science, bu

w I will joyfully impa

ou in your search aft

I will come at t

o

's loya

car

a word," said the

B

emperor, with a mean

urself into the porta

into the penetralia an

has cost me many a s

ts, even when I was b

B

or passion in this l

once more at its

A

ng else. I may just as

ect of my love, I hav

d thrown away at leas

worth d

Y

her very coy or very

t convulsing

S

he emperor. "All my

he will not yield up h

ed to the love of on

-Germ

ou

exclaimed the

Y

fortunate few, to wh

his place I would giv

fidant of the count wa

m him, I invited him h

ig

his letter wri

B

nd of the

A

was addres

E

mada

T

you speak is your ol

Y

you to give it up, but

I have ever since w

t conceived a new idea

dating small diamonds

a burni

h

h a happy hearty lau

th outstre

ra

leton; and all that ha

se. My crown doesn't

rt's love, forgive my f

ect

st

appeal the emperor sto

y and seriousl

Y

ter a moment's silenc

f more misery to you

my honor as a man, and

render you homage, an

ustria's realms. I wi

e, for I, like you,

ave wished that in givi

he privileges of a co-

itated and annoyed; I

g empire. I have done t

because you are worth

thout my help. In the

f the reigning empress

and here I reign supr

overeign, but the ma

ity of his manhood sha

rse

ea

ever seek to wound

azed with rapture up

h that never had he lo

r the first time, he

nst

Y

majesty," replied the

steps with spies;

ed by your attendants.

my own servants; forci

as sovereign, exercise

Gaspardi orders to del

im to tell anyone whe

d committed the grave

ithful, to disobey a

, dear Franz," said

i's presence I will a

and before him I wil

to blame. I promise yo

, for your love is the

happiness would grande

ranz, forgive you

d her head toward her

love, that he could bu

itching

om

id tenderly; "surely

ed you. Bet satisfied

of the coy mistress u

ds, and be

A

you be magnanimous al

ers alone, and set n

ep

nd

have as I have done to

y pardon. I will tell y

shortly to su

O

it is good news I sig

with a

I

ried the empress. "fo

ing down revenge upon

el who took my beautif

is impiety, calls

H

Frederick that little

?" asked the e

N

n him, nor do I ever e

o, I came like a begga

defense. I have nev

ion of t

A

confess that Frederick

if we were allies; for

ings of a stable

I

e empress. "There is

nd peace will never c

No dependencies is to b

ions. In spite of our a

ns, the King of Pruss

e help I ever got fr

eason I have sought fo

will cordially unite w

om nothing in life is

ur treaty with England

ally I have found fo

A

s not a natural one fo

" exclaimed

I

cried Maria Theresa

h nations. Not only Lo

mpatient to have

T

s been flattering the

not treaties and the

sequence

B

t we have gone furthe

ept the King of France

marq

H

anage to buy the goodw

d you pay for th

n

ear husband,

et

er fro

m me to th

ha

laughing. "You wrot

res

W

ritten to her, and mo

g in the laugh. "And

in the matter? I prete

e king, and addres

e

moderately. "Well, wel

ry writes with her o

La Pom

A

calls me?" laughed

letter from her in

y, Ma chè

h

o such a volley of la

ir, which broke under h

nce for he was too con

O

ed the emperor still

lligence. Maria Theres

de Pomp

el

ked Maria Theresa. "D

when we were seeking a

not as good as a

h

with such a droll expr

herself from ridicule,

he

ked, and announced the

cep

P

eror; "I suppose h

ed by an