“No,” said Ludovicka, “no, I am not going with you, for I have something still to do here.  But if you are good and docile, and go back quietly and prettily to the sleeping room, and creep into your little bed, then I promise you to come soon.”

“Well, then, I will go,” sighed the child, and dropped her little head like a withered flower.  “Yes, I will be good, that you may love me.  But please come soon, Aunt Ludovicka, come soon.”

She again took the candlestick from the table, nodded to the Princess and tried to smile, while at the same time two long-restrained tears rolled, like liquid pearls, from her large blue eyes over her rosy cheeks.  Softly and with her little head always bowed down she crossed the apartment to the tapestry door; but, just as she was on the verge of the threshold, she stopped, turned around, and an expression of radiant joy flashed across her pretty face.

“Dear aunt,” she cried, “Trude told me that when we pray evil spirits must fly away, and have no longer any power.  I will pray, yes, I will pray for you.”

And the child sank upon her knees.  Placing the candlestick at her side, she folded her little white hands upon her breast, raised her head and eyes, and prayed in a distinct, earnest voice:  “Dear Heavenly Father and all ye holy angels on high, protect the innocent and the good!  O God! guide us to thee with the golden star which shone upon the shepherds in the field when they went out to seek the child Christ!  Blessed angels, come down and keep guard around our bed, that no evil spirits and bad dreams can come to trouble us!  God and all ye holy angels on high, have pity on the innocent and good!  Amen!  Amen!  Amen!”

And at the last amen, the child rose from her knees, again took up her light, and tripped lightly and smiling out of the room.

Ludovicka sprang to the door, shut it close, and leaned against it.  The Electoral Prince stepped forth from the curtain on the other side, and his countenance was grave, and his large eyes were less fiery and passionate, as he now approached the Princess.

“Poor child,” he whispered, “how bitterly distressed she is!  Go to her, my precious love, and pray with her for our happiness and our love.”

“Are you going away already, my Frederick?” she asked tenderly.

He pointed with his finger to the tapestry door.  “She is so distressed, and her dear little face was so sad, it touched me to the heart.”

“How foolish I was,” she murmured impatiently—­“how foolish not to think of it, that the child might disturb us!  She has often before spent the night with me, and never waked up, never—­”

“Never has she been disturbed,” concluded the Prince, smiling.  “Never before have evil spirits chattered and laughed within your room, and roused her from her sleep.  But she shall yet see that her prayer has not been in vain, but that it has exorcised the evil spirits.  Farewell, dear one!  Farewell, and this kiss for good-night—­this kiss for my beloved promised bride!  The last betrothal kiss, for to-morrow night you will be my wife!  God and all ye holy angels on high, protect the innocent and good!”