"But Corporal Fritz!" I exclaimed, "what are all these people about?"
"We are preparing the state apartments, dear little Fraeulein," replied
Corporal Fritz, rubbing his hands with an air of great enjoyment.
"But why? For whom?"
"For whom? Why, for the King, to be sure"; and Corporal Fritz clapped his
hand to the side of his hat like a loyal soldier. "Don't you know, dear
little Fraeulein, that His Majesty sleeps here to-night, on his way to
Ehrenbreitstein?"
This was news indeed! I ran up stairs--I was all excitement--I got in
everybody's way--I tormented everybody with questions. I saw the table
being laid in the grand salon where the King was to sup, and the bedstead
being put up in the little salon where he was to sleep, and the ante-room
being prepared for his officers. All was being made ready as rapidly, and
decorated as tastefully, as the scanty resources of the Chateau would
permit. I recognised much of the furniture from the attics above, and
this, faded though it was, being helped out with flowers, flags, and
greenery, made the great echoing rooms look gay and habitable.
By and by, my father came round to see how the work was going on, and
finding me in the midst of it, took me by the hand and led me away.
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