"Can't I go somewhere to wash my face and dress my hair?" asked she. "Of course. Doctor Gunther has given orders that you should." "I don't need orders for everything I do!" said Walpurga, defiantly. Mademoiselle Kramer wanted to have her maid dress Walpurga's hair. But Walpurga would not allow it. "No stranger's hand shall touch my head," said she. And after a little while she presented a tidy and almost cheerful appearance. "There, now I'll go to the queen," said she. "How do you address her?" "'Your majesty,' or, 'most gracious madam.'" "In the prayers at church they call her the 'country's mother,'" said Walpurga, "and I like that far better. That's a glorious, beautiful name. If it were mine, no one should take it from me. And now I'll go to the queen." "No! you must wait. You will be sent for." "That'll suit me just as well. But I want to ask a favor of you. Call me 'Du'."[1] "Quite willingly, if the first lady of the bedchamber does not object." "And so nothing can be done here without asking leave. But now we've done talking, let's be quiet. Ah, yes! there's one thing more. Whose picture is that hanging up there?" "The queen's." "Is that the queen? Oh, how lovely! But she's very young." "Yes, she's only eighteen years old." Walpurga gazed at the picture for a long while. Then, turning away from it, she sank on her knees beside the great chair, folded her hands and softly whispered a paternoster. Walpurga was still kneeling, when a knock at the door was heard. A lackey entered and said: "Her majesty has sent for his royal highness's nurse." Walpurga arose and followed the servant. Mademoiselle Kramer accompanying them. CHAPTER X. Preceded by a servant bearing a lantern, they passed through the long, narrow, brilliantly lighted passage and ascending a staircase, reached the gallery of the royal chapel. There were cushioned chairs for the court. Walpurga looked down into the vast, dark hall. There was no light except that in the altar lamp, the rays of which faintly illumined the image of the Virgin.