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grounds； and neither at the Edison kinematograph； where they refreshed
their patriotism with some scenes of their native life； nor at the little
theatre where they saw the sports of the arena revived； in the wrestle of
a woman with a bear； did any of the people except tradesmen and artisans
seem to be taking part in the festival expression of the popular
pleasure。
The woman； who finally threw the bear； whether by slight； or by main
strength； or by a previous understanding with him； was a slender
creature； pathetically small and not altogether plain； and March as they
walked away lapsed into a pensive muse upon her strange employ。 He
wondered how she came to take it up； and whether she began with the bear
when they were both very young； and she could easily throw him。
〃Well； women have a great deal more strength than we suppose；〃 Kenby
began with a philosophical air that gave March the hope of some rational
conversation。 Then his eye glazed with a far…off look； and a doting
smile came into his face。 〃When we went through the Dresden gallery
together； Rose and I were perfectly used up at the end of an hour； but
his mother kept on as long as there was anything to see； and came away as
fresh as a peach。〃
Then March saw that it was useless to expect anything different from him；
and he let him talk on about Mrs。 Adding all the rest of the way back to
the hotel。 Kenby seemed only to have begun when they reached the door；
and wanted to continue the subject in the reading…room。
March pleaded his wish to find how his wife had got through the
afternoon； and he escaped to her。 He would have told her now that Kenby
was in the house； but he was really so sick of the fact himself that he
could not speak of it at once； and he let her go on celebrating all she
had seen from the window since she had waked from her long nap。 She said
she could never be glad enough that they had come just at that time。
Soldiers had been going by the whole afternoon； and that made it so
feudal。
Yes；〃 he assented。 〃But aren't you coming up to the station with me to
see the Prince…Regent arrive？ He's due at seven； you know。〃
〃I declare I had forgotten all about it。 No； I'm not equal to it。 You
must go； you can tell me everything； be sure to notice how the Princess
Maria looks； the last of the Stuarts； you know； and some people consider
her the rightful Queen of England； and I'll have the supper ordered； and
we can go down as soon as you've got back。〃
LV。
March felt rather shabby stealing away without Kenby； but he had really
had as much of Mrs。 Adding as he could stand； for one day； and he was
even beginning to get sick of Rose。 Besides； he had not sent back a line
for 'Every Other Week' yet； and he had made up his mind to write a sketch
of the manoeuvres。 To this end he wished to receive an impression of the
Prince…Regent's arrival which should not be blurred or clouded by other
interests。 His wife knew the kind of thing he liked to see； and would
have helped him out with his observations； but Kenby would have got in
the way； and would have clogged the movement of his fancy in assigning
the facts to the parts he would like them to play in the sketch。
At least he made some such excuses to himself as he hurried along toward
the Kaiserstrasse。 The draught of universal interest in that direction
had left the other streets almost deserted； but as he approached the
thoroughfare he found all the ways blocked； and the horse…cars；
ordinarily so furiously headlong； arrested by the multiple ranks of
spectators on the sidewalks。 The avenue leading from the railway station
to the palace was decorated with flags and garlands； and planted with the
stems of young firs and birches。 The doorways were crowded； and the
windows dense with eager faces peering out of the draped bunting。 The
carriageway was kept clear by mild policemen who now and then allowed one
of the crowd to cross it。
The crowd was made up mostly of women and boys； and when March joined
them； they had already been waiting an hour for the sight of the princes
who were to bless them with a vision of the faery race which kings always
are to common men。 He thought the people looked dull； and therefore able
to bear the strain of expectation with patience better than a livelier
race。 They relieved it by no attempt at joking； here and there a dim
smile dawned on a weary face； but it seemed an effect of amiability
rather than humor。 There was so little of this； or else it was so well
bridled by the solemnity of the occasion； that not a man； woman； or child
laughed when a bareheaded maid…servant broke through the lines and ran
down between them with a life…size plaster bust of the Emperor William in
her arms： she carried it like an overgrown infant； and in alarm at her
conspicuous part she cast frightened looks from side to side without
arousing any sort of notice。 Undeterred by her failure； a young dog；
parted from his owner； and seeking him in the crowd； pursued his search
in a wild flight down the guarded roadway with an air of anxiety that in
America would have won him thunders of applause； and all sorts of kindly
encouragements to greater speed。 But this German crowd witnessed his
progress apparently without interest； and without a sign of pleasure。
They were there to see the Prince…Regent arrive； and they did not suffer
themselves to be distracted by any preliminary excitement。 Suddenly the
indefinable emotion which expresses the fulfilment of expectation in a
waiting crowd passed through the multitude； and before he realized it
March was looking into the friendly gray…bearded face of the Prince…
Regent； for the moment that his carriage allowed in passing。 This came
first preceded by four outriders； and followed by other simple equipages
of Bavarian blue； full of highnesses of all grades。 Beside the Regent
sat his daughter…in…law； the Princess Maria； her silvered hair framing a
face as plain and good as the Regent's； if not so intelligent。
He； in virtue of having been born in Wurzburg； is officially supposed to
be specially beloved by his fellow townsmen； and they now testified their
affection as he whirled through their ranks； bowing right and left； by
what passes in Germany for a cheer。 It is the word Hoch； groaned forth
from abdominal depths； and dismally prolonged in a hollow roar like that
which the mob makes behind the scenes at the theatre before bursting in
visible tumult on the stage。 Then the crowd dispersed； and March came
away wondering why such a kindly…looking Prince…Regent should not have
given them a little longer sight of himself； after they had waited so
patiently for hours to see him。 But doubtless in those countries； he
concluded； the art of keeping the sovereign precious by suffering him to
be rarely and briefly seen is wisely studied。
On his way home he resolved to confess Kenby's presence； and he did so as
soon as he sat down to supper with his wife。 〃I ought to have told you
the first thing after breakfast。 But when I found you in that mood of
having the place all to ourselves； I put it off。〃
〃You took terrible chances； my dear；〃 she said； gravely。
〃And I have been terribly punished。 You've no idea how much Kenby has
talked to me about Mrs。 Adding！〃
She broke out laughing。 〃Well； perhaps you've suffered enough。 But you
can see now； can't you； that it would have been awful if I had met him；
and let out that I didn't know he was here？〃
〃Terrible。 But if I had told； it would have spoiled the whole morning
for you； you couldn't have thought of anything else。〃
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 she said； airily。 〃What should you think if I told
you I had known he was here ever since last night？〃 She went on in
delight at the start he gave。 〃I saw him come into the hotel while you
were gone for the guide…books； and I determined to keep it from you as
long as I could； I knew it would worry you。 We've both been very nice；
and I forgive you；〃 she hurried on； 〃because I've really got something to
tell you。〃
〃Don't tell me that Burnamy is here！〃
〃Don't jump to conclusions！ No； Burnamy isn't here； poor fellow！ And
don't suppose that I'm guilty of concealment because I haven't told you
before。 I was just thinking whether I wouldn't spare you till morning；
but now I shall let you take the brunt of it。 Mrs。 Adding and Rose are
here。〃 She gave the fact time to sink in； and then she added； 〃And Miss
Triscoe and her father are here。〃
〃What is the matter with Major Eltwin and his wife being here； too？ Are
they in our hotel？〃
〃No； they are not。 They came to look for rooms while you were off
waiting for the Prince…Regent； and I saw them。 They intended to go to
Frankfort for the manoeuvres； but they heard that there was not even
standing…room there； and so the general telegraphed to the Spanischer
Hof； and they all came here。 As it is； he will have to room with Rose；
and Agatha and Mrs。 Adding will room together。 I didn't think Agatha was
looking very well； she looked unhappy； I don't believe she's heard； from
Burnamy yet； I hadn't a chance to ask her。 And there's something else
that I'm afraid will fairly make you