The last ray of the setting sun! The spirits of the past danced and trembled in its luminous course; the days which had been, sparkled and glittered in its last ray, and then expired.
“Ah,” sighed the king, after an interval of silence, “why is the human heart so weak? why does it not retain like the precious stone its brilliant tints and fiery lustre? why do the rainbow hues and fire of love vanish? Why has fate ordained that all things should be subject to change, even love?”
Wilhelmine raised her head—the hour of bitterness was past; she now had courage to face the future, to pass the threshold of the new era. What has the future in store for her? Will it be gloomy? Has the sun set for her whole life, as its last ray has set in the chamber where she now sits, in night and darkness, at the side of the man she once called the sun of her life?
“You no longer love me, Frederick William!”
“I do love you, Wilhelmine; certainly I do, right cordially and sincerely.”
She uttered a loud cry and pressed her hand to her heart. How different was this tame assurance of love to the passionate protestations of former days!
“Speak on, Frederick William, speak on! I am prepared to hear all! You love me right cordially and sincerely, you say?”
“Yes, Wilhelmine, and God is my witness that this is the truth. I desire to do everything to contribute to your happiness?”
“Everything! everything, but love me as heretofore!”