lessly dressed, healthy, and just now very haughty-looking young girl, who seemed more like a boy in speech and manners, and one who needed to be disciplined and curbed.
Again the question came: "Who is this man, and what seeks he here, Klas? I ask."
"'T is a courier with dispatches for the council, Madam," replied the man.
"Give me the dispatches," said the girl; "I will attend to them."
"You, indeed!" The courier laughed grimly.
"The dispatches from the Emperor of Germany are for no hairbrained maid to handle. These are to be delivered to the Council of Regents alone."
"I will have naught of councils or regents, Sir Courier, save when it pleases me," said the girl, tapping the floor with an angry foot. "Give me the dispatches, I say, I am the King of Sweden!"
"You—a girl—king?" was all that the astonished courier could stammer out. Then, as the real facts dawned upon him, he knelt at the feet of the young queen and presented his dispatches. "Withdraw, sir!" said Christina, taking the papers from his hand with but the scant courtesy of a nod;" we will read these and return a suitable answer to your master."
The courier withdrew, still dazed at this strange
