Human quality! General Mettlich eyed his king with concern.
Since when had the reigning family demanded human qualities in
their governesses? "She is a thoughtful and conscientious woman,
sire," he said stiffly. It happened that he had selected her.
"She does her duty. And as to the boy being lonely, he has no
time to be lonely. His tutors - "

"How old is he?"

"Ten next month."

The King said nothing for a time. Then - "It is hard," he said
at last, "for seventy-four to see with the eyes of ten. As for
this afternoon - why in the name of a thousand devils did they
take him to see the 'Flying Dutchman'? I detest it."

"Her Royal Highness - "

"Annunciata is a fool," said His Majesty. Then dismissing his
daughter with a gesture, "We don't know how to raise our children
here," he said impatiently. "The English do better. And even
the Germans - "

It is not etiquette to lower one's eyebrows at a king, and glare.
But General Mettlich did it. He was rather a poor subject. "The
Germans have not our problem, sire," he said, and stuck up his
mustache.

"I'm not going to raise the boy a prisoner," insisted the King
stubbornly. Kings have to be very stubborn about things. So