"Afraid in _my_ company?" cried Wilhelm. "I forbid you to be afraid of
the very devil when I am around. I am your cavalier," he added; "you
must do as I tell you." Then his tone became coaxing again. "Don't you
like to have your fortune told, Bertha? She is a 'bird at it'--makes
your flesh creep and all that sort of thing."
"But does Auntie Majesty approve?"
"Bother, Mother; I am not under her thumb," he answered, and I thought
it very horrid of him.
Well, Franz, everything came off according to programme. For a young
girl from Essen to ride down The Linden with the Crown Prince, masters
of horse, maids of honour, chasseurs and grooms is lots of fun, and I
don't know that I ever enjoyed anything so much as the throngs of people
in the streets and on the sidewalk cheering and waving hats and
handkerchiefs. But, of course, they thought me a Royal Highness or some
sort of princess, the very least.
"Can't you ride astride?" whispered the Crown Prince as we passed
through the semi-shadows of the Brandenburger Thor.
"What is that?" I asked, and somehow got the feeling that his question
was not the correct thing. So I touched my horse with the spur and
cantered away. Wilhelm joined me quickly. "Dog-trot now," he said, and
we jogged along like Herr Director-General's family on their old brown
mares.
After passing Castle Bellevue, promenaders became few and far between,
and then the long-legged hunters increased the distance between
ourselves and the rest of the party very considerably. Suddenly
Wilhelm--he asked me to call him by his first name, but I always prefix
his title--whispered: "Now, _ventre a terre_." Setting the example he
jumped a hedge, I after him--a fine race we ran for the next ten
minutes.
Then back to Bellevue. We galloped right through to the water's edge,
and were half across the river before the stablemen had caught the
horses.
_Lieber_ Franz, you must excuse; I can't write a word more. Too tired
and too excited. So good night for to-night and pleasant
dreams.--Always your good sister,