from England, but she was aware that the lady liked to repeat it,
and she liked it very much, too, to hear people talk about her
beloved master's fame and glory, having faithfully served him
already for more than twenty years. Hence she said, with a kind-
hearted smile:

"No, indeed, I don't know it, and I cannot comprehend why the doctor
said no to the king and queen of England."

"He did so for my sake, Catharine!" said the lady, and an expression
of joyful pride shed a lustre of beauty and tenderness over her kind
old face. "Yes, I tell you, it was solely for my sake that my
husband came home again. 'Remain with us!' said the king to him.
'You shall have every thing the queen has offered you. You shall
live at Windsor, and sing once a day with the queen. Of you, my dear
doctor, I shall not be jealous, for you are an excellent and honest
German gentleman.' And when the king had told him that, my husband
bowed respectfully, and replied: 'Your majesty, it is my highest
pride to maintain this reputation. But just because I am an honest
German, I must tell you that I cannot stay here--I cannot leave my
country and my wife forever!'"

"'Oh, as far as that is concerned,' exclaimed the king, 'we shall
send for your wife. She shall live with you at Windsor.' But my
husband laughed and said: 'She will never come, your majesty. She
would not cross the Danube in a skiff, much less make a trip beyond
the sea. And, therefore, there is nothing left to me but to return
myself to my little wife.' And he did so, and left the king, and the
queen, and all the noble lords and ladies, and came back to Vienna,
and to his little wife. Say, Catharine, was not that well done of