the Divine Bridegroom awaited
her.

The events occurring in the world, whether peace reigned or the nations
were at war with one another, affected her only so far as they were
connected with her patient. Her thoughts and acts, all her love and
solicitude, referred solely to the invalid in her care.

The departure of Frau Lerch was a relief to her mind, and it seemed an
enigma that Barbara, whose beauty increased her interest, and whom
the physician had extolled as a famous singer, could have given her
confidence, in her days of health, to this woman.

Sister Hyacinthe's appearance beside her couch had at first perplexed
Barbara, because she had not asked for her; but the mere circumstance
that her lover had sent her rendered it easy to treat the nun kindly,
and the tireless, experienced, and invariably cheerful nurse soon became
indispensable.

On the whole, both the leech and Sister Hyacinthe could call Barbara a
docile patient, and she often subjected herself to a restraint irksome
to her vivacious temperament, because she felt how much gratitude she
owed to both.

Not until the fever reached its height did her turbulent nature assert
its full power, and the experienced disciple of the art of healing had
seen few invalids rave more wildly.

The delusions that tortured her were by no means varied, for all
revolved about the person of her imperial lover and her art. But under
the most careful nursing her strong constitution resisted even the most
violent attacks of the fever, and when June was drawing toward an end
all danger seemed over.

Dr. Mathys had already permitted her to sit out of doors, and informed
the Emperor that there was no further occasion for fear.

The monarch expressed his gratification but, instead of asking more
particularly about the progress of her convalescence, he hastily turned
the conversation to his own health.

Dr. Mathys regretted this for the sake of the beautiful neglected
creature, who had won his sympathy, but it did not surprise him, for
duty after duty now filled every hour of Charles's day. Besides, on the
day after to-morrow, the fourth of July, the marriages of his two
nieces were to take place, and he himself was to accompany the bridal
procession and attend the wedding. On the fifth the Reichstag would be
opened, and the Duke of Alba, with several experienced colonels, had
arrived as harbingers of the approaching war. Where this stern and
tried general appeared, thoug