Bettina was the most troublesome daughter of the king and the queen. She loved to run away whenever possible. She ran away from piano lessons and from French classes; she climbed out of the window and ran away to play on the meadow; or she ran away to ride all over the countryside! Prince Charles heard about her and rode out to meet her as a simple soldier. Bettina enjoyed talking to him on the meadow and riding with him. Soon, they were in love. “Shall we run away and get married?” she asked the prince. The prince agreed. He went quietly to the king and told him all about himself. The king and the queen smiled, “You are a very clever young man! You will be able to take care of our daughter!” And so, Bettina ran way to marry the prince. Can you imagine her surprise when she saw her parents and everyone else in the church?
The Run-Away Princess
