inter, during which Charles reached his fifty-fourth year,
his health failed so noticeably that the physicians despaired of his
recovery. The Brabant palace was constantly besieged by people of all
classes inquiring about the condition of the still honoured and by many
deeply beloved monarch, and Barbara almost daily asked for news of him.
She usually entered the palace clad in black and closely veiled, for she
had many acquaintances among the attendants.

Adrian was inaccessible, because his master could not spare him a single
hour, but she saw his substitute, Ogier Bodart, who had served the
Emperor in Ratisbon. From him she learned how the sufferer passed
the night, how the day promised, and whether the physician's opinion
awakened hope or fear. He even told her that his Majesty was occupying
himself with his last will, the payment of his debts, the arrangement of
the succession, and the choice of his burial place.

All this occupied Barbara's mind so deeply, and the long waiting to
see Bodart often robbed her of so much time, that her housewifely and
maternal duties suffered, yet her patient husband endured it a long
while indulgently. But once, when he summoned up courage and cautiously
blamed her, she quietly admitted that he was right, but added that she
had never concealed from him the tie which bound her to the Emperor
Charles, and now that Death was stretching his hand toward him, she must
be permitted to obtain news of his welfare.

The strong man silenced his dissatisfaction, and placed no obstacles in
her way. He was grateful for the maternal solicitude which she showed
the children.

His kindly nature secretly approved of her spending a longer time in the
Cathedral of St. Gudule than usual, praying for the royal sufferer who
was so seriously ill. The man whom she could not forget was dying and,
moreover, was his sovereign.

Spring at last brought an improvement in the monarch's health, and with
it Barbara's return to her household duties.

A great change took place in the Dubois home during the spring after
Charles's convalescence. The exhausting care of the Emperor had
made Adrian seriously ill and, in spite of the objections and bitter
complaints of his beloved and honoured master and his own desire to
continue in his service, he was forced to resign his office, which was
committed to his assistant Bodart.

One day Barbara met Dr. Mathys at the ex-valet's sick-bed. The kindly
leech was amazed at