Some say it was already settled by the parents that there was to be a marriage in due time.

Settled it could hardly be; for Wilhelmina tells us, [_ Memoires de la Margrave de Bareith, _ i.

l.] her Father had a "choice of three" allowed him, on coming to wed; and it is otherwise discernible there had been eclipses and uncertainties, in the interim, on his part.

Settled, no; but hoped and vaguely pre-figured, we may well suppose.

And at all events, it has actually come to pass; "Father being ardently in love with the Hanover Princess," says our Margravine, "and much preferring her to the other two," or to any and all others.