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How not smile when the Princess, after observing regretfully that the Baroness would not be able to educate my children, bade me inculcate her principles in the mind of their tutor or governess. She was afraid, she said, that dear Elsa might be a little lacking in firmness, a little prone to that indulgence which is no true kindness in the end. "The very reverse of it, madame," added Krak.
Above all, I recollect the fine excitement of seeing my own name in great long golden letters, with a word after them that Krak told me I ought to know meant "king," and was of the third declension. "Rex, Regis," said Krak, and told poor Victoria to go on. Victoria was far too excited, and Krak said we must both learn it to-morrow; but we were clapping our hands, and didn't pay much heed.
Augustin, will you ask mother to send Krak away when I'm fifteen?" "No," said I. I had a wholesome dread of straining the prerogative. "Then when I'm sixteen?" "I don't see what I've got to do with it," said I restlessly. Victoria became huffy. "You're king, and you could do it if you liked," she said. "If I was king, I should like to do things for people, for my sister anyhow."
There was a very long service; I did not care about or heed much of it, until the archbishop came down on to the lowest step, and my mother took my hand again and led me to him, and he put the crown on my head. I liked that, and turned round to see if the people were looking, and was just going to laugh at Victoria, when I saw Krak frowning at me; so I turned back and listened to the archbishop.
Before they had time to stop, the dogs had flown one before the other into the marsh. "Krak! Laska!..." The dogs came back. "There won't be room for three. I'll stay here," said Levin, hoping they would find nothing but peewits, who had been startled by the dogs, and turning over in their flight, were plaintively wailing over the marsh. "No! Come along, Levin, let's go together!" Veslovsky called.
"No, I've I've not forgotten her," I murmured. "Does she ever come to see you, mother here at Artenberg, I mean?" "No, darling," said my mother. I did not pursue the subject. I had eyes good enough to see that my dislike for Krak was pleasanter to my mother than my liking for the Countess. Women seem to me to have the instinct of monopoly, and not to care for a share of affection.
Suddenly there was heard a rushing noise, as of wings overhead, and then down came the ravens calling "Krâk, krâk, here we are, ready and willing to help you. What are you looking for?" "I want some of the Water of Death and the Water of Life: it is impossible for me to find them, for I don't know where to look." "Krâk, krâk, we know very well where to find some. Wait a moment."
I think little difference was made in our household while we mourned the dead King. Krak was still sharp, imperious, and exacting. She had been my mother's governess, and came with her from Styria.
He delighted to talk to my mother, chaffing her Styrian ideas with a graceful deference that made her smile. Victoria adored him openly, and Krak did not understand why he was not odious. Thus he conquered the Court, and I was the first of his slaves.
I hope William Adolphus won't be snoring very loud, I hear him so plainly through the wall," she said as she started for the door. Of the next day I have three visions. I see myself with Krak and Princess Heinrich. Pride illuminated their faces with a cold radiance, and their utterances were conceived in the spirit of a Nunc Dimittis.
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