Part 23 (1/2)
”All must serve some one; the king and queen serve G.o.d.”
”We must all do that.”
”Yes, but princes have a much harder time of it than we, for theirs is a far greater responsibility. But what am I saying? You ought to feel happy that you needn't know everything. I've brought some writing copies for you. I owe you thanks for one thing, already. Ever since I've resolved to teach you, my own writing has become far plainer than before--”
Irma suddenly checked herself, for she realized the full force of what she had been saying, and continued: ”for you are to learn it thoroughly.”
Baum came to announce that the carriage was waiting. Irma left, saying that she would meet Walpurga in the park.
They now went out and Baum let down the carriage steps for them.
Mademoiselle Kramer, who was the first to enter, held the child until Walpurga had seated herself. Baum jumped up behind and took his place beside the second lackey; the four horses stepped out and the carriage started.
”Are we driving?” asked Walpurga.
”Certainly.”
”It seems like flying. I can't hear the least rumbling of the wheels.”
”Of course you can't. The tires are covered with india-rubber.”
”And so they wear cloth shoes just as we do when we walk on smooth floors. Oh, how clever they all are here. Out yonder, they don't know a thing. They live just like cattle; the only difference is they don't eat gra.s.s--but what's the matter?” said she, starting with fright.
”They're beating the drums and the soldiers are rus.h.i.+ng toward us. Is there a fire somewhere?”
”That's on our account. The guard always present arms when a member of the royal family pa.s.ses by--watch them. They're presenting arms and after we've pa.s.sed they'll lay their muskets aside and return to the guardroom. Their regiment is known as the crown prince's, for it belongs to him.”
”And so he'll have live soldiers to play with when he grows up.”
Mademoiselle Kramer showed all the self-command befitting one who could boast of a line of sixteen ancestors. A slight start and an odd, nervous twitching of the features, as if suppressing a yawn, were the only visible effects of Walpurga's words. But of laughter there was not a sign. An upper servant of the right sort must hear and see all that is going on, and yet stand by as if he were no more than the table or plate that can be moved about at will; and although Walpurga was not her superior, it would not do to laugh at her, for she was nurse to his royal highness the crown prince. Mademoiselle Kramer therefore refrained from laughing, and, as if to evade answering, merely said: ”When we pa.s.s the guard on our way home, the same thing will happen again.”
”And may I ask what's the good of it all?”
”Certainly; there is a good reason for everything, and this serves to accustom the people, and especially the soldiers, to show proper respect to their superiors.”
”But our prince don't know anything of that.”
”We must show our respect for him, even though he know nothing of it; and now let me tell you something which it would be well for you to know. Whenever you speak or think of their majesties, the king and queen, let it be as 'his majesty' or 'her majesty,' but never simply as king and queen, so that you may never so far forget yourself as to speak of them in a disrespectful manner. Bear this in mind.”
Walpurga scarcely heard a word of what she said.
”Oh, Lord!” she exclaimed, ”how wisely they've arranged everything. It must have taken many thousand years before they could get so far.”
”It has, indeed. But you needn't nod to everyone you see bowing. It isn't meant for you.”
”But I'd like to do it for my prince, until he can attend to it himself. They all show how glad they'll be to get a look at him. They all bow to you, my child--you're well off, indeed--oh, what a lovely carriage this is. It's as soft as a bed, and as comfortable as a room, and you can sit here and see all that's going on outside, and--dear me, how fast we're going.”
They turned into the park. The carriage drove slowly while they pa.s.sed the lake, and Walpurga was ever saying:
”I feel as if I were in fairyland.”
They alighted by the shady and fragrant Grove of the Nymphs. As soon as she had left the carriage, Walpurga, who was carrying the child in her arms, said: