“Was it again some quarrel about etiquette?” she asked.
“Yes, and a quarrel of the worst kind,” replied the king, quickly. “The mistress of ceremonies demands that I should always be announced to you before entering your room, Louisa.”
“Oh, you are always announced here,” she exclaimed, tenderly; “my heart always indicates your approach—and that herald is altogether sufficient, and it pleases me much better than the stern countenance of our worthy mistress of ceremonies.”
“It is the herald of my happiness,” said the king, fervently, laying his arm upon his wife’s shoulder, and gently drawing her to his heart.
“Do you know what I am thinking of just now?” asked the queen, after a short pause. “I believe the mistress of ceremonies will get up a large number of new rules, and lecture me considerably about the duties of a queen in regard to the laws of etiquette.”
“I believe you are right,” said the king, smiling.
“But I don’t believe she is right!” exclaimed the queen, and, closely nestling in her husband’s arms, she added: “Tell me, my lord and king, inasmuch as this is the first time that you come to me as a king, have I not the right to ask a few favors of you, and to pray you to grant my requests?”
“Yes, you have that right, my charming queen,” said the king, merrily; “and I pledge you my word that your wishes shall be fulfilled, whatever they may be.”
“Well, then,” said the queen, joyfully, “there are four wishes that I should like you to grant. Come, sit down here by my side, on this small sofa, put your arm around my waist, and, that I may feel that I am resting under your protection, let me lean my head upon your shoulder, like the ivy supporting itself on the trunk of the strong oak. And now listen to my wishes. In the first place, I want you to allow me to be a wife and mother in my own house, without any restraint whatever, and to fulfil my sacred duties as such without fear and without regard to etiquette. Do you grant this wish?”
“Most cordially and joyfully, in spite of all mistresses of ceremonies!” replied the king.