"Very well; I will be calm. But do leave her with me a moment longer! Let me have more light, so that I may see her."
The screen was removed from a lamp that stood on a side-table, and the two mothers beheld each other, face to face.
"How beautiful you are!" exclaimed the queen.
"That doesn't matter any longer," replied Walpurga. "God be praised, we've both got over having our heads turned by such nonsense. You're a wife and mother, and so am I."
The screen fell again; the queen, taking Walpurga's hand in hers, said in a gentle voice:
"Bend down to me, I want to kiss you--I must kiss you."
Walpurga did as she was bid, and the queen kissed her.
"You can go now. Keep yourself good and true," said the queen.
A tear of Walpurga's fell upon the face of the queen, who added:
"Don't weep! You, too, are a mother."