confessed to himself that he was once more clasped in her tender
embraces, but the people and the prince should not hope that his
life was threatened.

For this reason should Sophia give a ball, and the world should see
that the queen and her daughters were gay and happy.

The queen was indeed really gay to-day; she was free. It seemed as
if the chains which bound her bad fallen apart, and the yoke to
which she had bowed her royal neck was removed. To-day she was at
liberty to raise her head proudly, like a queen, to adorn herself
with royal apparel. Away, for to-day at least, with sober robes and
simple coiffure. The king was fastened to his arm-chair, and Sophia
dared once more to make a glittering and queenly toilet. With a
smile of proud satisfaction, she arrayed herself in a silken robe,
embroidered in silver, which she had secretly ordered for the ball
from her native Hanover. Her eyes beamed with joy, as she at last
opened the silver-bound casket, and released from their imprisonment
for a few hours these costly brilliants, which for many years had
not seen the light. With a smiling glance her eyes rested upon the
glittering stones, which sparkled and flamed like falling stars, and
her heart beat high with delight. For a queen is still a woman, and
Sophia Dorothea had so often suffered the pains and sorrows of
woman, that she longed once more to experience the proud happiness
of a queen. She resolved to wear all her jewels; fastened, herself,
the sparkling diadem upon her brow, clasped upon her neck and arms
the splendid brilliants, and adorned her ears with the long
pendants; then stepping to the Venetian mirror, she examined herself
critically. Yes, Sophia had reason to be pleased; hers was a queenly
toilet. She looked in the glass, and thought on bygone days, on