SONNSFELD (_in a tone of despair_). Princess, are these the King's plans for your future? WILHELMINE (_trembling in excitement_). Calm yourself, dear friend. Yes, this is the beginning of a new life for me. The battle is on! Go to my father and tell him-- SONNSFELD. Go to the King and tell him--[_To the_ PRINCESS.] What are they to tell him? WILHELMINE (_with tragic decision_). Tell him that I-- SONNSFELD. Tell him that we-- WILHELMINE. That I--[_Her courage begins to fail._] That although we _will_ learn the chapters-- SONNSFELD. And although we _will_ eat the beans-- WILHELMINE. It will not be our fault if [_with renewed courage_] if in the despair of our hearts-- SONNSFELD (_tragically_). We let fall the stitches in the orphan's stockings-- WILHELMINE. And wish that we were merely the Princess of Reuss-- SONNSFELD. Schleiz-- WILHELMINE. Greiz and Lobenstein! [_They go out angrily._] ACT III _The_ PRINCESS' _room. Attractive, cozy apartment. An open window to the right. Doors centre, right and left. A cupboard, a table._ SCENE I PRINCESS WILHELMINE _leans against the window-casing, deep in thought._ SONNSFELD _sits on the left side of the room, knitting a child's stocking._ WILHELMINE (_aside_). Hour after hour passes! What will the Prince think of me? Or can he have learned my fate already? SONNSFELD. Did Your Highness speak? WILHELMINE. No, I--I merely sighed. SONNSFELD. It seemed as if you were talking to yourself. Don't be too melancholy. You'll soon learn the Bible verses and I'll relieve you of most of the knitting. WILHELMINE. You are too good--you are kinder to me than I have deserved of you today. That work is tiring you--give it to me. SONNSFELD. No, let me have it. You take the other one that is started. In this way we will gain time to rest later. WILHELMINE (_listening toward the door_). And we aren't even allowed a word with each other in freedom. SONNSFELD (_rises and looks toward the door_). It is cruel to let soldiers see a Princess humiliated to the extent of knitting stockings. WILHELMINE. Why complain? It is--of itself, quite nicely domestic. [_She knits._] SONNSFELD. What would the Prince of Baireuth say if he could see you now? WILHELMINE. The Prince? What made you think of the Prince? SONNSFELD. You cannot deny that his attentions to you might be called almost--tender-- WILHELMINE. Almost-- SONNSFELD. Such eyes! Such burning glances! I am very much mistaken or it was Your Royal brother's intention, in sending this young Prince to you, to send you at the same time the most ardent lover under the sun. WILHELMINE. Lovers hold more with the moon. SONNSFELD. And he shows so great an admiration for you that I am again mistaken if our sentry outside the door there has not already in his pocket a billet-doux addressed to Your Highness--a billet-doux written by the Prince. WILHELMINE. Sonnsfeld! What power of combination! SONNSFELD.