louisa of prussia and her times-第105节

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The　queen　paused；　and　two　tears；　glistening　more　beautifully　than
the　diamonds　of　her　golden　diadem；　slowly　ran　down　her　cheeks。

Concert…master　Himmel　was　not　courageous　enough　to　interrupt　the
silence　of　the　queen；　or；　may　be；　he　had　not　listened　very
attentively　to　her　words；　and　his　thoughts　perhaps　were　fixed　on
matters　of　an　entirely　different　character；　for　his　air　was　absent
and　gloomy；　his　eyes　glanced　around　the　room；　but　returned
continually　to　the　lovely　form　of　the　queen。

Suddenly　Louisa　seemed　to　arouse　herself　violently　from　her　gloomy
meditation；　and　after　hastily　wiping　the　tears　from　her　eyes　she
forced　herself　to　smile。

〃It　is　not　good　to　give　way　to　melancholy　forebodings；〃　she　said；
〃particularly　in　the　presence　of　a　stern　teacher。　We　must　improve
our　time　in　a　more　useful　manner；　for　time　is　a　very　precious　thing；
and　if　I　had　not　judiciously　profited　by　my　short　leisure　to…day；　I
should　not　have　had　a　single　hour　to　spare　for　my　teacher；　for　there
will　be　a　reception　in　the　palace　to…night；　and　I　must　previously
give　audience　to　several　visitors。　I　have；　therefore；　made　my
evening　toilet　in　the　afternoon；　and　thereby　gained　time　to　take　my
dear　singing…lesson。　But　now　let　us　study；　so　that　your　pupil　may
redound　to　your　honor。〃

〃Oh；　your　majesty；〃　ejaculated　Himmel；　〃my　honor　and　my　happiness！〃

〃Hush；　hush；〃　said　Louisa；　interrupting　him；　with　an　enchanting
smile；　〃no　flattery！　no　court…phrases！　Here　I　am　not　the　queen；　nor
are　you　my　devoted　subject；　I　am　nothing　but　an　obedient　pupil；　and
you　are　my　rigorous　master；　who　has　a　right　to　scold　and　grumble
whenever　I　sing　incorrectly；　and　who　very　frequently　avails　himself
of　this　privilege。　Do　not　apologize　for　it；　but　go　on　in　the　same
manner；　for　I　will　then　only　learn　the　more。〃

〃Your　majesty　sings　like　an　angel；〃　murmured　Himmel；　whose　eyes　were
fixed　steadfastly　on　the　queen。

〃Well；　as　far　as　that　is　concerned；　you　are　a　competent　judge；〃
exclaimed　Lousia；　laughing；　〃for　being　Himmel　（heaven）；　you　must
know　how　the　angels　sing；　and　your　opinion　cannot　be　disputed。　The
angels；　then；　sing　incorrectly；　like　your　obedient　pupil？　Let　the
angels　do　so；　but　not　your　pupil。　Come；　Mr。　Himmel；　sit　down。　It
does　not　behoove　the　maestro　to　stand　at　the　side　of　his　pupil。　Sit
down。〃

She　pointed　with　a　graceful　wave　of　her　hand　at　the　chair　standing
at　her　side；　and　Mr。　Himmel；　complying　with　her　order；　sat　down。　His
glances　returned　involuntarily　to　the　queen；　whose　beauty　only　now
burst　on　his　short…sighted　eyes；　and　whom　he　believed　he　had　never
seen　so　lovely；　so　fascinating　and　graceful。　Her　beautiful　face
seemed　to　him　like　that　of　a　fairy　queen；　and　her　wonderful
shoulders；　her　superb；　dazzling　neck；　which　he　had　never　seen
unveiled　and　so　very　near；　appeared　to　him　like　the　bust　of　a
goddess；　moulded　by　Phidias　from　living　marble。

〃Well；　let　us　commence；〃　said　the　queen；　calmly。　〃Pray　play　the
melody　in　the　treble　and　let　me　play　the　accompaniment　a　few　times；
I　shall　then　be　better　able　to　sing　the　song。〃

She　commenced　eagerly　playing　the　prelude；　while　a　deeper　blush
mantled　her　cheeks。　It　was　Himmel's　turn　now　to　begin　with　the
melody；　his　eyes；　however；　were　not　fixed　on　the　music；　but　on　the
queen；　and　hence　he　blundered　sadly。

〃Well？〃　asked　the　queen；　looking　at　him　in　charming　confusion。　〃You
do　not　play　correctly。〃

〃Yes；　I　have　blundered；　your　majesty；〃　said　Himmel；　gloomily；　〃I
have　blundered；　for　I　am　only　a　man　after　all；　and　cannot　look　into
the　sun　without　having　a　coup　de　soleil。　Your　majesty；　I　have　had
such　a　coup　de　soleil；　and　you　see　I　have　lost　my　reason　in
consequence。〃

With　these　words　he　bent　over　the　queen　and　imprinted　a　glowing　kiss
on　her　shoulders；　then　he　hastily　rose；　took　his　hat；　and　rushed　out
of　the　room。　＇Footnote：　historical＇

The　queen's　eyes　followed　him　with　an　air　of　surprise　and
embarrassment；　then　she　burst　into　ringing；　charming　laughter。

〃Ah；〃　she　said；　〃if　that　austere　'Madame　Etiquette；'　the　mistress　of
ceremonies；　should　have　seen　that；　she　would　have　either　died　with
horror；　or　her　wrath　would　have　crushed　the　criminal。　I　believe　I
will　confess　the　terrible　crime　to　her。　Oh；　my　dear　mistress　of
ceremonies！　my　dear　mistress　of　ceremonies！〃　she　cried。

The　door　of　the　adjoining　room　opened　immediately；　and　the　Countess
von　Voss　made　her　appearance。

〃Your　majesty　has　called　me；〃　she　said；　and；　after　looking　around
the　room；　she　cast　a　glance　of　surprise　on　the　clock。

〃Ah；　my　dear　countess；　you　are　surprised　that　Mr。　Himmel；　my
singing…master；　has　already　left；　although　the　hour　has　only　half
expired？〃　asked　the　queen；　merrily。

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　the　countess；　sighing；　〃I　really　ought　no
longer　to　be　surprised　at　any　thing；　nor　wonder　at　any　violation　of
etiquette；　for　such　things；　unfortunately；　occur　every　day　and　every
hour。　Your　majesty　knows；　moreover；　that　this　Mr。　Himmel　is
altogether　distasteful　to　me。〃

〃And　why？〃　asked　the　queen；　gayly。

〃Your　majesty；　because　it　is　contrary　to　etiquette　for　a　queen　to
take　lessons；　and　to　have　a　teacher。〃

〃What！〃　exclaimed　Louisa。　〃According　to　etiquette；　then；　a　queen　is
not　permitted　to　learn　any　thing　after　ascending　the　throne？〃

〃No；　your　majesty；　for　it　is　entirely　unbecoming　that　one　of　your
subjects　should　become　the　teacher　of　his　queen；　and　that　anybody
should　be　permitted　and　dare　to　censure　her。〃

〃Well；　do　not　you　do　so　very　often；　my　dear　countess？〃　asked　the
queen；　good…naturedly。

〃I　dare　not　censure　the　queen；　but　merely　to　defend　and　maintain
etiquette；　as　my　duty　and　official　position　require　me　to　do。　But　a
queen　who　takes　lessons　must　descend　from　her　throne　so　long　as　her
teacher　is　with　her；　must　renounce　her　exalted　position；　and　obey
instead　of　commanding。　In　such　a　case；　therefore；　etiquette　is
altogether　out　of　the　question。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Louisa；　merrily。　〃Mr。　Himmel；　the　concert…
master；　at　least；　entirely　coincides　with　you；　and　he　takes　no
notice　whatever　of　etiquette。　Shall　I　confess　to　you；　my　dear
countess；　why　Mr。　Himmel　has　run　away　to…day　half　an　hour　before　the
regular　time？〃

〃Run　away？〃　asked　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　in　dismay。　〃He　has
dared　to　run　away　in　the　presence　of　your　majesty？〃

〃Yes；　he　has　dared　to　do　so；　but　previously　he　has　dared　to　do
something　a　great　deal　worse。　He　hasbut；　dear　countess；　sit　down；
you　might　turn　giddy。〃

〃Oh　no；　your　majesty；　permit　me　to　stand。　Your　majesty　was　going　to
communicate　graciously　to　me　what　Mr。　Himmelthis　teacher　of　a
queen　is　not　even　a　noblemanhas　dared　to　do　in　the　presence　of
your　majesty。〃

〃Well；　listen　to　me；〃　said　the　queen；　smiling；　and　bending　down
closely　to　the　ear　of　the　countess；　she　whispered：　〃He　has　kissed　my
shoulder！〃

The　mistress　of　ceremonies　uttered　a　piercing　cry　and　tottered　back
in　dismay。

〃Kissed！〃　she　faltered。

〃Yes；　kissed；〃　sighed　the　queen；　〃I　really　believe　it　is　still　to　be
seen。〃

She　walked　with　light；　swinging　steps　to　the　large　looking…glass；
and　looked　at　her　shoulder　with　a　charming；　child…like　smile。

〃Yes；　that　small　red　spot　there　is　Mr。　Himmel's　crime！〃　she　said。
〃Tell　me　what　punishment　he　has　deserved；　countess。〃

〃That　is　a　question　for　the　courts　alone　to　decide；〃　said　the
mistress　of　ceremonies；　solemnly；　〃for　we　shall　bring　the
occurrence；　of　course；　at　once　to　their　notice。　Orders　should　be
issued　immediately　to　arrest　him；　and　his　punishment　should　be　as
unparalleled　as　was　his　offence。　Your　majesty　will　permit　me　to
repair　at　once　to　the　king　in　order〃。

〃No；　my　dear　mistress　of　ceremonies；〃　said　the　queen；　who　was　still
standing　in　front　of　the　looking　glass　and　contemplating　her　own
form；　not　with　the　contented　looks　of　a　conceited　woman；　but　with
the　calm；　stern　eyes　of　a　critic　examining　a　work　of　art〃no；　my
dear　mistress　of　ceremonies；　we　shall　take　good　care　not　to　raise　a
hue　and　cry　about　it。　And　Mr。　Himmel　is　not　so　culpable；　after　all；
as　he　seems　to　be。〃

〃What！　Your　majesty　intends　to　defend　him？〃

〃Not　to　defend；　but　to　excuse　him；　my　dear　countess。　He　was　at　my
side　as　my　dear　old　teacher；　and　I　was　to　him　not　a　queen；　but　a
pupil；　and；　moreover；　a　pupil　with　very　beautiful　shoulders。　My　dear
countess；　I　am　really　more　culpable　than　poor　Himmel；　for；　if　the
queen　becomes　a　pupil；　she　must　remember　that　her　teacher　is　a　man；
and　she　must　not　treat　him　merely　as　an　automaton　instructing　her。
The　only　judge　who　is　able　to　decide　this　matter　is　my　husband；　the
king。　He　shall　pronounce　judgment　on　it；　and　if　he　permits　Mr。
Himmel　to　come　back；　I　shall　go　on　with　my　singing…lessons。
However；〃　added　the　queen；　smiling；　and　blushing　delicately；　〃in
future　I　shall　wrap　a　shawl　around　my　shoulders。　And　now；　my　dear
countess；　pray　let　us　not　mention　this　little　affair　to　anybody。　I
shall　submit　it　to　the　king　and　ask　him　to　decide　it。〃

〃I　shall　be　silent　because　your　majesty　orders　me　to　keep　the
occurrence　secret；〃　sighed　the　countess。　〃But　it　is　unheard…of；　it
is　dreadful。　It　is　rank　treason；　and　the　offended　royal　majesty　will
forgive　without　punishing。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　will！〃　exclaimed　the　queen；　joyfully。　〃For