sad of heart to take leave of you," concluded he: "embrace your
Husband on my part; I am so overcome that I must not see him."
[Wilhelmina, ii. 4; who dates 11th January, 1732.] And so they
rolled away.

Crown-Prince was back to Custrin again, many weeks before. Back to
Custrin; but under totally changed omens: his history, after that
first emergence in Wilhelmina's dance "23d November about six
P.M.," and appearance at Parade on the morrow (Saturday morning),
had been as follows. Monday November 26th) there was again grand
Ball, and the Prince there, not in gray this time. Next day, the
old Dessauer and all the higher Officers in Berlin petitioned,
"Let us have him in the Army again, your Majesty!" Majesty
consented: and so, Friday, 30th, there was grand dinner at
Seckendorf's, Crown-Prince there, in soldier's uniform again; a
completely pardoned youth. His uniform is of the Goltz Regiment,
Infantry: Goltz Regiment, which lies at Ruppin,--at and about, in
that moory Country to the Northeast, some thirty or forty miles
from Berlin;--whither his destination now is.

Crown-Prince had to resume his Kammer work at Custrin, and see the
Buildings at Carzig, for a three months longer, till some
arrangements in the Regiment Goltz were perfected, and finishing
improvements given to it. But "on the last day of February" (29th)
1732 being leap-year), his Royal Highness's Commission to be
Colonel Commandant of said Regiment is made out; and he proceeds,
in discharge of the same, to Ruppin, where his men lie. And so
puts off the pike-gray coat, and puts on the military blue one,
[Preuss, i. 69.]--never to quit it again, as turned out.

Ruppin is a little Town, in that northwest Fehrbellin region:
Regiment Goltz had lain in detached quarters hitherto; but is now
to lie at Ruppin, the first Battalion of it there, and the rest
within reach. Here, in Ruppin itself, or ultimately at Reinsberg
in the neighborhood, was Friedrich's abode, for the next eight
years. Habitual residence: with transient excursions, chiefly to
Berlin in Carnival time, or on other great occasions, and always
strictly on leave; his employment being that of Colonel of Foot, a
thing requiring continual vigilance and industry in that Country.
Least of all to be neglected, in any point, by one in his
circumstances. He did his military duties to a perfection
satisfactory even to Papa; and achieved on his own score many
other duties and improvements, for which Papa had less value.
These eight years, it is always understood, were among the most
important of his life to him.



END OF BOOK VIII-----





End of Project Gutenberg's Etext History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 8

