At His Expense
After recuperating for some weeks at Berchtesgaden, in the Austrian Alps, during the summer of 1886, Prince William, the present Emperor of Germany, accompanied by the Princess, went to Salzburg to meet their royal grandfather. The aged monarch asked the Princess how she had enjoyed herself.
“Oh very much indeed,” she said, “only at times I was dreadfully homesick. I do so long to see my children.”
The Emperor asked, smilingly:
“But why didn’t you bring your little ones with you; the mountain air would have been splendid for them.”
“Yes, but grandpapa, it would have cost too much!”
The Emperor nodded assent: “You are right; three little Princes do cost a good deal.”
When the royal family met for a late supper, the Emperor handed a telegram to his granddaughter. She looked at it, scarcely able to comprehend the contents, until the old gentleman said with a kindly smile:
“No need to keep you in suspense
The children are coming—at my expense.”