TherainhadliftedalittleandthesunshoneoutonthebloomofthelovelyparterrewheretheMarchesprofitedbyasmilingmomenttowanderamongthestatuesandtherosesheavywiththeshower。ThentheywalkedbacktotheircarriageanddrovetotheNewPalace，whichexpressesindifferingarchitecturaltermsthesamesubjectiontoanalienidealofbeauty。Itisthrongedwithoutbydelightfullypreposterousrococcostatues，andwithinitisrichinallthosecuriositiesandmemorialsofroyaltywithwhichpalacessowellknowhowtofatiguethefleshandspiritoftheirvisitors。
TheMarchesescapedfromitallwithsighsandgroansofrelief，andbeforetheydroveofftoseethegreatfountainoftheOrangeries，theydedicatedamomentofpathostotheTempleofFriendshipwhichFrederickbuiltinmemoryofunhappyWilhelminaofBeyreuth，thesisterhelovedinthecommonsorrowoftheirwretchedhome，andneglectedwhenhecametohiskingdom。Itisbeautifulinitsrococcoway，sweptuptoonitsterracebymostnoblestaircases，andswaggeredoverbybaroqueallegoriesofallsorts：Everywherethestatuesoutnumberedthevisitors，whomayhavebeenkeptawaybytherain；thestatuesnaturallydidnotmindit。
Sometimeinthemidstoftheirsight-seeingtheMarcheshaddinnerinamildewedrestaurant，whereacompatrioticaccentcaughttheirearinavoicesayingtothewaiter，“Weareinahurry。”TheylookedroundandsawthatitproceededfromtheprettynoseofayoungAmericangirl，whosatwithapartyofyoungAmericangirlsataneighboringtable。ThentheyperceivedthatallthepeopleinthatrestaurantwereAmericans，mostlyyounggirls，whoalllookedasiftheywereinahurry。Butneithertheirbeautynortheirimpatiencehadtheleasteffectwiththewaiter，whoprolongedthedinnerathispleasure，andalarmedtheMarcheswiththemisgivingthattheyshouldnothavetimeforthefinalpalaceontheirlist。
ThiswasthepalacewherethefatherofFrederick，themadoldFrederickWilliam，broughtuphischildrenwiththatseveritywhichSolomonurgedbutprobablydidnotpractise。Itisavastplace，buttheyhadtimeforitall，thoughthecustodianmadethemostofthemasthelatestcomersoftheday，andledthemthroughitwithaprolixityasgreatastheirwaiter’s。Hewasamostfriendlycustodian，andwhenhefoundthattheyhadsomelittlenotionofwhattheywantedtosee，hemixedzealwithhispatronage，andinamannermadethemhishonoredguests。Theysaweverythingbutthedoorwaywherethefaithfulroyalfatherusedtolieinwaitforhischildrenandbeatthem，princesandprincessesalike，withhisknobbycaneastheycamethrough。Theymighthaveseenthisdoorwaywithoutknowingit；butfromthewindowoverlookingtheparade-groundwherehisfamilywatchedthemanoeuvresofhisgiganticgrenadiers，theymadesureofjustsuchpuddlesasFrederickWilliamforcedhisfamilytositwiththeirfeetin，whiletheydinedalfrescoonporkandcabbage；
andtheyvisitedtheroomoftheSmokingParliamentwhereheruledhisconviveswitharodofiron，andmadethemthevictimsofhisbadjokes。
Themeasuring-boardagainstwhichhetookthestatureofhistallgrenadiersisthere，andoneroomisdevotedtothosemasterpieceswhichheusedtopaintintheagoniesofgout。Hischefd’oeuvrecontainsafigurewithtwoleftfeet，andthereseemednoreasonwhyitmightnot。
havehadthree。InanotherroomisasmallstatueofCarlyle，whodidsomuchtorehabilitatethehousewhichthedaughterofit，Wilhelmina，didsomuchtodemolishintheregardofmen。
Thepalaceisnowmostlykeptforguests，andthereisachamberwhereNapoleonslept，whichisnotlikelytobeoccupiedsoonbyanyotherself-invitedguestofhisnation。ItisperhapstokeeptheprincesofEuropehumblethathardlyapalaceontheContinentiswithoutthechamberofthisadventurer，who，tillhestoopedtobelikethem，waseasilytheirmaster。AnotherdemocracyhadhererecordeditsinvasionintheAmericanstoveswhichthecustodianpointedoutinthecorridorwhenMrs，March，withaslittledelayaspossible，hadproclaimedtheircountry。Thecustodianprofessedanaddedrespectforthemfromthefact，andifhedidnotfeelit，nodoubthemeritedthedrinkmoneywhichtheylavishedonhimatparting。
Theirdriveralsowasacongenialspirit，andwhenheletthemoutofhiscarriageatthestation，heexcusedtherainydaytothem。Hewasamerryfellowbeyondthewontofhisnation，andhe-laughedatthebadweather，asifithadbeenagoodjokeonthem。
Hisgayety，andtheredsunsetlight，whichshoneonthestemsofthepinesonthewaybacktoBerlin，contributedtothecontentinwhichtheyreviewedtheirvisittoPotsdam。Theyagreedthattheplacewasperfectlycharming，andthatitwasincomparablyexpressiveofkinglywillandpride。ThesehaddonethereonthegrandscalewhatalltheGermanprincesandprincelingshadtriedtodoinimitationandemulationofFrenchsplendor。InPotsdamthegrandeur，wasnotahistoricalgrowthasatVersailles，butwastheeffectoffamilygenius，inwhichtherewasoftenthecuriousfascinationofinsanity。
TheyfeltthisstronglyagainamidstthefutilemonumentsoftheHohenzollernMuseum，inBerlin，wherealltheportraits，effigies，personalbelongingsandmemorialsofthatgifted，eccentricracearegatheredandhistoricallydisposed。TheprincesofthemightylinewhostandoutfromtherestareFredericktheGreatandhisinfuriate。
father；andinthewaxenlikenessoftheson，asmallthinfigure，terriblyspry，andafacepitilesslyalert，appearssomethingofthemadnesswhichshowedinthelifeofthesire。
Theywentthroughmanyroomsinwhichthememorialsofthekingsandqueens，theemperorsandempresseswerecarefullyordered，andfeltnokindnessexceptbeforetherelicsrelatingtotheEmperorFrederickandhismother。InthepresenceofthegreatestofthedynastytheyexperiencedakindofterrorwhichMarchexpressed，whentheyweresafelyaway，intheconfessionofhisjoythatthosepeopleweredead。
TheroughweatherwhichmadeBerlinalmostuninhabitabletoMrs。MarchhadsuchaneffectwithGeneralTriscoeatWeimarthatundertheordersofanEnglish-speakingdoctorheretreatedfromitaltogetherandwenttobed。Hereheescapedthebronchitiswhichhadattackedhim，andhisconvalesencelefthimsolittletocomplainofthathecouldnotalwayskeephistemper。Intheabsenceofactualoffence，eitherfromhisdaughterorfromBurnamy，hissenseofinjurytookaretroactiveform；itcentredfirstinStollerandthetwins；thenitdivergedtowardRoseAdding，hismotherandKenby，andfinallyinvolvedtheMarchesinthesamemeasureofinculpation；fortheyhadeachandallhadpart，directlyorindirectly，inthechancesthatbroughtonhiscold。
HeowedtoBurnamythecomfortofthebestroominthehotel，andhewasconstantlydependentuponhiskindness；buthemadeitevidentthathedidnotover-valueBurnamy’ssacrificeanddevotion，andthatitwasnotanunmixedpleasure，howevergreataconvenience，tohavehimabout。Ingivinguphisroom，Burnamyhadproposedgoingoutofthehotelaltogether；butGeneralTriscoeheardofthiswithalmostasgreatvexationashehadacceptedtheroom。Hebesoughthimnottogo，butsoungraciouslythathisdaughterwasashamed，andtriedtoatoneforhismannerbythekindnessofherown。
PerhapsGeneralTriscoewouldnothavebeenwithoutexcuseifhewerenoteagertohavehersharewithdestitutemeritthefortunewhichshehadhithertosharedonlywithhim。Hewasold，andcertainluxurieshadbecomehabitsifnotnecessarieswithhim。Ofcoursehedidnotsaythistohimself；andstilllessdidhesayittoher。ButheletherseethathedidnotenjoythechancewhichhadthrownthemagaininsuchcloserelationswithBurnamy，andhedidpothidehisbeliefthattheMarchesweresomehowtoblameforit。ThismadeitimpossibleforhertowriteatoncetoMrs。Marchasshehadpromised；butshewasdeterminedthatitshouldnotmakeherunjusttoBurnamy。Shewouldnotavoidhim；shewouldnotletanythingthathadhappenedkeepherfromshowingthatshefelthiskindnessandwasgladofhishelp。
OfcoursetheyknewnooneelseinWeimar，andhispresencemerelyasafellow-countrymanwouldhavebeenprecious。Hegotthemadoctor，againstGeneralTriscoe’swill；hewentforhismedicines；helenthimbooksandpapers；hesatwithhimandtriedtoamusehim。ButwiththegirlheattemptednoreturntothesituationatCarlsbad；thereisnothinglikethedelicateprideofayoungmanwhoresolvestoforegounfairadvantageinlove。
Thedayaftertheirarrival，whenherfatherwasmakingupforthesleephehadlostbynight，shefoundherselfaloneinthelittlereading-roomofthehotelwithBurnamyforthefirsttime，andshesaid：“IsupposeyoumusthavebeenalloverWeimarbythistime。”
“Well，I’vebeenhere，offandon，almostamonth。It’saninterestingplace。There’sagooddealoftheoldliteraryqualityleft。”
“Andyouenjoythat！Isaw“——sheaddedthiswithalittleunnecessaryflush——“yourpoeminthepaperyoulentpapa。”
“IsupposeIoughttohavekeptthatback。ButIcouldn’t。”Helaughed，andshesaid：
“Youmustfindagreatdealofinspirationinsuchaliteraryplace。”
“Itisn’tlyingaboutloose，exactly。”Evenintheseriousandperplexingsituationinwhichhefoundhimselfhecouldnothelpbeingamusedwithherunliterarynotionsofliterature，herconventionalandcommonplaceconceptionsofit。Theyhadtheirvaluewithhimasthoseofamorefashionableworldthanhisown，whichhebelievedwassomehowagreaterworld。Atthesametimehebelievedthatshewasnowinterposingthembetweenthepresentandthepast，andforbiddingwiththemanyreturntothemoodoftheirlastmeetinginCarlsbad。Helookedatherladylikecomposureandunconsciousness，andwonderedifshecouldbethesamepersonandthesamepersonastheywholostthemselvesinthecrowdthatnightandheardandsaidwordspalpitantwithfate。Perhapstherehadbeennosuchwords；perhapsitwasallahallucination。Hemustleavehertorecognizethatitwasreality；tillshedidso，hefeltbitterlythattherewasnothingforhimbutsubmissionandpatience；ifsheneverdidso，therewasnothingforhimbutacquiescence。
Inthistalkandinthetalkstheyhadafterwardssheseemedwillingenoughtospeakofwhathadhappenedsince：ofcomingontoWurzburgwiththeAddingsandoffindingtheMarchesthere；ofRose’scollapse，andofhismother’sflightseawardwithhiminthecareofKenby，whowassofortunatelygoingtoHolland，too。HeonhissidetoldherofgoingtoWurzburgforthemanoeuvres，andtheyagreedthatitwasverystrangetheyhadnotmet。
Shedidnottrytokeeptheirrelationsfromtakingthedomesticcharacterwhichwasinevitable，anditseemedtohimthatthisinitselfwassignificantofadeterminationonherpartthatwasfataltohishopes。Withalover’sindefinitepowerofblindinghimselftowhatisbeforehiseyes，hebelievedthatifshehadbeenmorediffidentofhim，moreuneasyinhispresence，heshouldhavehadmorecourage；butforhertobreakfastunafraidwithhim，tomeethimatlunchanddinnerinthelittledining-roomwheretheywereoftentheonlyguests，andalwaystheonlyEnglish-speakingguests，wasnothinglessthanprohibitive。