“Marie, are you not coming?” called the mother, with a commanding voice. “I must obey,” she said, drawing a long breath, and hastening to the door, followed by Trude, who pulled her back and held her fast upon the very first step. “You have forbidden me to speak of him, but I must.” Marie stood as if rooted to the spot, her face flushed, and in breathless expectation looking back to old Trude. “Speak, Trude,” she softly murmured. “Marie, I saw him to-day, an hour ago!” “Where, Trude, where did you see him?” “Over on the corner of Frederick Street, by the baker’s. He stood waiting for me, as he knows I always go there. He had been there two hours, and feared that I was not coming.” “What did he say? Quick! what did he say?” “He said that he was coming to see you to-day at twelve o’clock; that he would rather die than live in this way.” “To-day? and you have just told me of it!” “I did not mean to say any thing at all about it; I thought it would be better, and then you would not have to dissemble. But now, if any harm comes to you, you know he is coming, and will stand by you!” “He will stand by me--yes, he will--” “Marie!” cried her mother, and her dry, gaunt figure appeared at the foot of the stairs. Marie flew down to the sitting-room of her parents, following her mother, who took her place in the niche at the open window without speaking to her. CHAPTER XIV. THE KING’S LETTER. “Marie,” said the general’s wife, after seating herself upon the hard cushion of the divan, near which sat the general in his arm-chair, busily stroking his painful right leg--“Marie, take a chair, and sit near us.” Marie noiselessly brought a cane-chair, and seated herself by the table, opposite her parents. “We have just received a communication from the king’s cabinet,” said the mother, solemnly. “It is necessary that you should know the contents, and I will read it aloud to you. I expressly forbid you, however, to interrupt me while I am reading, in your impetuous manner, with your remarks, which are always of the most obstinate and disagreeable kind. You understand, do you, Marie?” “Perfectly, mother; I will listen without interrupting you, according to your command.” “This communication is naturally addressed to your father, as I wrote to the king in his name.” “I did not know that you had written to his majesty at all, dear mother.”