The officers came to see me at Easter, just as I had put the Easter eggs in the garden, for my little brother and some other boys whom I had invited to hunt for them.

I had spent my last six groschen for the eggs, and I anticipated so much pleasure with the hide-and-seek for them.

We had just begun, when the officers came." "That was really unfortunate," said the king, sympathizingly.
"Yes, sire, very disagreeable, and I could not possibly feel kindly.
While the officers were talking, I was always wishing they would go.

But they stayed and stayed--and when Major von Werder began to make a long speech to me, and I thought there was no end to it, I became impatient and furious--and--" "Why do you hesitate ?" asked the king, looking tenderly at the frank, glowing face of the boy.

"What happened ?" "Something dreadful, sire! I could not keep in any longer.