vied with the other in costliness,
the white with the red rose in beauty!

Barbara involuntarily looked at her sea-green brocade, and felt its
heavy texture and the softness of the fur trimming on the overdress,
which at home she had called a masterpiece of Frau Lerch's work. She
could be satisfied with her appearance, and the string of pearls on her
neck and the bracelet which her lover had sent to her, after her visit
in the page's costume, were also costly ornaments. The magnificent star
was missing; in its place she wore at the square-cut neck of her
dress two beautiful halfblown roses, and her mirror had showed her how
becoming they were.

She did not need gold or gems. What gave her power to subdue the hearts
of men was of higher value.

Yet, when she mingled among the other dignitaries, she felt like an
intruder in this circle.

The marquise had left her, and joined those of her own rank. Most of the
ladies were strangers to Barbara, and she was avoided by those whom she
knew; but, to make amends, she was soon surrounded by many aristocratic
gentlemen, and her mobile nature speedily made her forget what had just
depressed her joyous spirit.

Then the cannon and culverins thundered louder, the blare of trumpets
rent the air with deafening shrillness, the ringing of bells in all the
steeples of Ratisbon, the exulting shouts of the crowd upon the stands
and in the whole Lindenplatz poured in mighty waves of sound into the
tent, where the nobles and aristocratic ladies around Barbara now raised
their voices also.

With a throbbing heart she mingled her cheers with those of the others
and, like them, waved her handkerchief and her fan.

The man whom she loved was approaching! This crashing and echoing, this
wild uproar of enthusiastic shouts and cries, this flutter of flags
and waving of handkerchiefs were all in his honour and, stirred to her
inmost soul by impetuous enthusiasm and ardent gratitude, her eyes grew
dim with tears, and she joined far more loudly and freely in the
cheers of the multitude than the aristocrats around her, to whom court
etiquette dictated reserve on all occasions, even this one.

The loving woman saw nothing save the man who was advancing. How should
she have noticed the scornful glances which her unrestrained vivacity
elicited?

Her gaze was fixed solely upon the one sun to which the little stars
around her owed their paler or brighter radiance. She scarcely noticed
even the h