wishes; but up to this hour he had desired
nothing more constantly and longingly than to hear her sing once more,
as in that never-to-be-forgotten May in the Ratisbon home. He might now
hope, sooner or later, to have this wish, too, fulfilled. These were
kind, cheering words, and with a grateful ebullition of feeling she
admitted that, after his glad tidings, she, too, again felt capable of
believing in a happy future.

So the friends from childhood bade each other farewell.

CHAPTER XVIII.

During the following days Barbara's life path was illumined by the
reflection of the happiness bestowed by the wonderful change in the fate
of her child of sorrow, who now promised to become a giver of joy to
her.

Doubtless during the ensuing years many dark shadows fell upon her
existence and her heart; but when everything around and within was
gloomy, she only needed to think of the son whom she had given the
Emperor, and the constantly increasing brilliancy of his career, to
raise her head with fresh confidence. Yet the cloud obscuring her
happiness which she found it hardest to bear proceeded directly from
him.

He had probably mentioned her to his royal brother, and revenues had
been granted her far exceeding poor Wawerl's dreams, and doubtless a
reflection of the admiration which her son earned fell upon her, and her
pride was greatly increased. Moreover, she could again devote
herself without fear to her ardently beloved art, for even honest old
Appenzelder declared that he liked to listen to her, though her voice
still lacked much of the overpowering magic of former days. She was in
a position, too, to gratify many a taste for whose satisfaction she had
often yearned, yet she could not attain a genuine and thorough new sense
of happiness.

The weeks which, a few years after her John's recognition, she spent
with self-sacrificing devotion beside her husband's couch of pain, which
was to become his deathbed, passed amid anxiety and grief, and when her
affectionate, careful nursing proved vain, and Pyramus died, deep and
sincere sorrow overpowered her. True, he had not succeeded in winning
her to return his tender love; but after he had closed his eyes she
realized for the first time what a wealth of goodness and fidelity was
buried with him and lost to her forever.

Her youngest boy, soon after his father's death, was torn from her by
falling into a cistern, and she yielded herself to such passionate grief
for