scrutinize it too closely.  They unveil it to show she has been as good as her word, and then cover it up to fix the rider to the horse,—­a screw is employed, I imagine.  For one thing we know about it, we know that the horse and the horseman travelled hither separately.  In all probability, the margravine gave the order for the statue last autumn in Berlin.  Now look at the prince.  He has his eye on you.  Look down.  Now he has forgotten you.  He is impatient to behold the statue.  Our chief fear is that the statue will not maintain its balance.  Fortunately, we have plenty of guards to keep the people from pushing against it.  If all turns out well, I shall really say the margravine has done wonders.  She does not look anxious; but then she is not one ever to show it.  The prince does.  Every other minute he is glancing at the tent and at his watch.  Can you guess my idea?  Your father’s absence leads me to think-oh! only a passing glimmer of an idea —­the statue has not arrived, and he is bringing it on.  Otherwise, he would be sure to be here.  The margravine beckons me.’

‘Don’t go!’ we cried simultaneously.

The Princess Ottilia supplied her place.

’I have sent to our stables for two little pretty Hungarian horses for you two to ride,’ she said.  ’No, I have not yet seen him.  He is asked for, and de Markgrafin knows not at all.  He bades in our lake; he has been seen since.  The man is exciteable; but he is so sensible.  Oh, no.  And he is full of laughter.  We shall soon see him.  Would he not ever be cautious of himself for a son like you?’

Her compliment raised a blush on me.

The patience of the people was creditable to their phlegm.  The smoke of pipes curling over the numberless heads was the most stirring thing about them.

Temple observed to me,

‘We’ll give the old statue a British cheer, won’t we, Richie?’

‘After coming all the way from England!’ said I, in dejection.

’No, no, Richie; you’re sure of him now.  He ’s somewhere directing affairs, I suspect.  I say, do let us show them we can ring out the right tune upon occasion.  By jingo! there goes a fellow with a match.’

We saw the cannonier march up to the margravine’s carriage for orders.  She summoned the prince to her side.  Ladies in a dozen carriages were standing up, handkerchief in hand, and the gentlemen got their horses’ heads on a line.  Temple counted nearly sixty persons of quality stationed there.  The workmen were trooping out of the tent.

Miss Sibley ran to us, saying,—­

’The gun-horror has been commanded.  Now then:  the prince can scarcely contain himself.  The gunner is ready near his gun; he has his frightful match lifted.  See, the manager-superintendent is receiving the margravine’s last injunctions.  How firm women’s nerves are!  Now the margravine insists on the prince’s reading the exact time by her watch.  Everybody is doing it.  Let us see.  By my watch it is all but fifteen minutes to eleven, A.M.  Dearest,’ she addressed the little princess; ‘would you not like to hold my hand until the gun is fired?’