"Well, it was in this way," returned he. "When I saw those handsome children, in their beautiful dresses, bounding up the castle-steps, I thought to myself, 'They are quite at home now, where we dare only take a little peep; they have everything so nice, yet I don't know that they are any better than we.'"
"Did you really think so!" said Mina amazed.
"Now, however, I think," returned he, "how well off we are. Father and mother are happy together, grand-parents, and everybody love one another, but those poor things have lost their father, and they dare not see their grandfather."
"Perhaps it will all come right," said Mina consolingly "I should like to see that lovely princess again."
"But she must be only addressed as—most gracious lady," said Mrs. Dote.
CHAPTER VI.—THE PRINCELY CHILDREN.
Spite of his views of freedom and equality, Fritz walked somewhat more timidly with Mina in the garden the following day.
"You may go without any fear," Mrs. Dote had said encouragingly; "only you must keep rather in the side walks than in the broad alleys. You can go and gather me a beautiful nosegay and fresh green for the little hall where the family will dine. And if you should meet the young grandees and they should speak, you must answer prettily and politely; only mind, don't you speak first."
"He is, however, nothing but a boy, like me, only somewhat younger," Fritz was again ready to reply, but he checked himself and remained silent.