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Suddenly the door opened。 Yes； there was the king。 He stepped forward very quietly； his head a little bowed down； in the midst of the solemn stillness of the chapel his step resounded loudly。
Yes； it was Frederick the Great； he was alone； accompanied by no royal state； surrounded by no glittering crowdbut it was the king； in the glory of his majesty； his endurance； and his valor； radiant in the splendor of his heroic deeds and his great victories。
Frederick seated himself slowly； gave one quick glance at the choir； and waved his hand to them。 Benda raised his baton and gave the sign to commence。 And now a stream of rich harmony floated through the chapel。 The organ； with its powerful； majestic tones； the trumpets； with their joyous greeting； the drums； with their thunder； and the soft； melting tones of the violin and flute； mingled together in sweet accord。
The king； with head erect and eager countenance； listened to the beautiful and melodious introduction。 He seemed to be all ear； to have no other thought； no other passion than this music； which was wholly unknown to him。 And now； with a powerful accord； the sweetly attuned human voices joined in； and the choir sang in melting unison the Te Deum Laudamus； which resounded solemnly； grandly through the aisles。 The king turned pale； and as the hymn of praise became more full and rich； his head sank back and his eyes were fixed upon the floor。
Louder and fuller rose the solemn tones； suddenly； from the midst of the choir； a soft； melting tenor sang in a sweet； touching voice； Tuba mirum spargeus sonum。 Frederick's head sank still lower upon his breast； and at last； no longer able to restrain his tears； he covered his face with his hands。
The lofty strains of this solemn hymn resounded through the empty church； which until now had been wrapped in gray clouds； but in a moment the sun burst from behind the clouds； darted its rays through the windows； and lighted up the church with golden glory。 The king who； until now； had been in the shadow of the cloud； was as if by magic bathed in a sea of light。 All eyes were fixed upon his bowed head； his face partially covered with his hands； and the tears gushing from his eyes。
No one could withstand the silent power of this scene； the eyes of the singers filled with tears； and they could only continue their chant in soft； broken； sobbing tones； but Benda was not angry； he dared not look at them； lest they might see that his own stern eyes were veiled in tears。
Frederick seemed more and more absorbed in himselflost in painful memories。 But the loud hosannas resounded and awakened him from his slumber； he dared no longer give himself up to brooding。 He arose slowly from his seat； and silent and alone； even as he had entered； he left the church。
CHAPTER II。
PRINCE HENRY。
Seven years had passed since Prince Henry had left his wife； to fight with his brother against his enemies。 During these long years of strife and contest； neither the king nor the prince had returned to Berlin。 Like the king； he also had won for himself fame and glory upon the battle…field。 Much more fortunate than his brother； he had won many victories； and had not sustained a single defeat with his army corps。 More successful in all his undertakings than Frederick； perhaps also more deliberate and careful； he had always chosen the right hour to attack the enemy； and was always prepared for any movement。 His thoughtfulness and energy had more than once released the king from some disagreeable or dangerous position。 To the masterly manner in which Prince Henry managed to unite his forces with those of his brother after the battle of Kunersdorf； the king owed his escape from the enemies which then surrounded him。 And to the great and glorious victory gained by Prince Henry over the troops of the empire and of Austria at Freiberg； the present happy peace was to be attributed。 This battle had subdued the courage of the Austrians； and had filled the generals of the troops of the empire with such terror； that they declared at once their unwillingness to continue the war； and their determination to return with their forces to their different countries。
The battle of Freiberg was the last battle of the Seven Years' War。 It brought to Prince Henry such laurels as the king had gained at Leignitz and Torgau； it placed him at his brother's side as an equal。 Frederick saw it without envy or bitterness； and rejoiced in the fulness of his great soul； in his brother's fame。 When he found himself； for the first time after the Seven Years' War； surrounded at Berlin by the princes and generals； he advanced with a cordial smile to his brother； and laying his hand gently on his shoulder； said aloud：
〃You see here； sirs； the only one amongst us all who did not commit a single mistake during the war！〃
Seven years had passed since Prince Henry had seen his young wife； Princess Wilhelmina。 He could at last return to herto his beloved Rheinsberg； and find rest after his many years of wandering。 He had written to the princess； and requested her not to meet him in Berlin； but to find some pretext for remaining at Rheinsberg。 His proud soul could not endure the thought that the woman he loved； who appeared to him fit to grace the first throne of the world； would occupy an inferior position at courtwould have to stand behind the queen。 He had never envied the king his crown or his position； but his heart now craved the crown of the queen； for the brow of his own beautiful wife； who seemed much better fitted to wear it than the gentle； timid Elizabeth Christine。 Princess Wilhelmina had therefore remained at Rheinsberg； feigning sickness。
It was night！ The castle of Rheinsberg glittered with the light of the torches by which the gates were adorned； to welcome the prince to his home。 The saloons and halls were brilliantly lighted； and in them a gay； merry crowd was assembled。 All the prince's friends and acquaintances had been invited by Princess Wilhelmina to greet his return。
Every thing in the castle bore the appearance of happinessall seemed gay and cheerful。 But still； there was one whose heart was beating anxiously at the thought of the approaching hourit was the Princess Wilhelmina。 She was gorgeously dressed； diamonds glittered on her brow and throat； bright roses gleamed upon her breast； and a smile was on her full； red lips。 No one knew the agony this smile cost her！ No one knew that the red which burned upon her cheek was caused； not by joy； but terror！
Yes； terror！ She was afraid of this meeting； in which she was to receive the prince as her loved husband； while； during the long years of absence； he had become a perfect stranger to her。 Not even bound to him by the daily occurrences of life； she had no sympathies with the husband who had been forced upon her； and who had once contemptuously put aside the timid heart that was then prepared to love him。 This stranger she was now to meet with every sign of love； because he had one day waked up to the conviction that the heart he had once spurned was worthy of him。 It was her duty now to return this loveto consecrate the rich treasures of her heart to him who had once scorned them。 Her soul rose in arms at this thought like an insulted lioness； and she felt some of that burning hatred that the lioness feels for her master who wishes to tame her with an iron rod。 The prince was to her but her master； who had bound and held her heart in irons； to keep it from escaping from him。
During these seven long years； she had experienced all the freedom and happiness of girlhood； her heart had beat with a power； a fire condemned by the princess herself； but which she was incapable of extinguishing。
Trembling and restless； she wandered through the rooms； smiling when she would have given worlds to have shrieked out her pain； her agony； decked in splendid garments； when she would gladly have been in her shroud。 Every sound every step； filled her with terror； for it might announce the arrival of her husband； whom she must welcome with hypocritical love and joy。 Could she but show him her scorn； her hatred； her indifference！ But the laws of etiquette held her in their stern bonds and would not release her。 She was a princess； and could not escape from the painful restraints of her position。 She had not the courage to do so。 At times in her day…dreams； she longed to leave all the cold； deceitful glare； by which she was surrounded… …to go to some far distant valley； and there to live alone and unknown； by the side of her lover； where no etiquette would disturb their happinesswhere she would be free as the birds of the air； as careless as the flowers of the field。 But these wild dreams vanished when the cold； cruel reality appeared to her。 By the side of the once loving woman stood again the princess； who could not surrender the splendor and magnificence by which she was surrounded。 She had not the courage nor the wish to descend from her height to the daily life of common mortals。 There was dissension in her soul between the high…born princess and the loving； passionate woman。 She was capable of making any and every sacrifice for her love； but she had never openly confessed this love； and even in her wildest dreams s