They had indeed beheld a dreadful sight, for they had seen
the son of Wendelin XV. beaten over the back by a common workman with a
stick. The duchess had to witness many similar outrages later when she
saw George in the school to which the stone-mason sent his promising
apprentice. Alas! how long the poor child had to bend over his drawing-
board and his slate doing dreadful sums, whereas Wendelin only studied
two hours a day under a considerate tutor who gently coaxed him along the
paths of learning. Everything that seemed difficult was carefully
removed from his way, and everything that was unpalatable was coated with
sugar before being presented to him. Thus even in school the fortunate
child trod a path strewn with roses without thorns, and if he yawned now
and then in his tutor's face, the latter could flatter himself that the
young prince yawned much more frequently over what other people
considered pleasures and amusements.
When he attained his sixteenth birthday, he was declared to be of age,
for princes mature earlier than other men.
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