shall be entirely free to choose my toilet, and I will never be
forbidden to wear diamonds! When I am a queen I will wear diamonds
every day; they belong to majesty, and our royal mother was never
more a queen than to-day!"

"Listen," said Amelia, "to this proud and all-conquering little
princess, who speaks of being a queen, as if it were all arranged,
and not a doubt remained; know you that the king, our father,
intends you for a queen? Perhaps he has already selected you for a
little margrave, or some unknown and salaried prince, such as our
poor sister of Bairout has wedded."

"I would not give my hand to such a one!" said the princess,
hastily.

"You would be forced to yield, if your father commanded it," said
the queen.

"No," said Ulrica, "I would rather die!"

"DIE!" said Sophia; "man sighs often for Death, but he comes not;
our sighs have not the power to bring him, and our hands are too
weak to clasp him to our hearts! No, Ulrica, you must bow your will
to your father, as we have all done--as even the prince, your
brother, was forced to do."

"Poor brother," said Amelia, "bound to a wife whom he loves not--how
wretched he must be!"

Ulrica shrugged her shoulders. "Is not that the fate of all princes