s her entirely.

The girl flew into a rage, and no whisper or urgency from another, but
her own unbridled, independent nature, which during continual struggle
had been steeled to assert herself, in spite of her poverty, among the
rich companions of her own rank, as well as the newly awakened haughty
consciousness that now, as the object of the mightiest monarch's love,
she was exalted far above the companions of her own rank--led her to
rebuff the warning of the well-meaning man with a sharpness that it ill
beseemed one so much younger to use toward the Emperor's gray-haired
messenger.

The valet shrugged his shoulders compassionately, and his regular
features, whose expression varied only under the influence of strong,
deep feelings, distinctly betrayed how sincerely he lamented her conduct.

Barbara noticed it, and instantly remembered what Wolf had told her about
him and his wife. She did not think of the influence which he exercised
upon the Emperor and the service which he might render her, but all the
more vividly of his steadfast, devoted loyalty, and what he was and had
accomplished for the man whom she loved, and, seized with sincere
repentance, obeying a powerful impulse, she held out her hand with frank
cordiality just as he was already bowing in farewell. Adrian hesitated a
moment.

What did this mean?

What accident was causing this new change of feeling in this April day of
a girl?

But when her sparkling blue eyes gazed at him so brightly and at the same
time so plainly showed that she knew she had wronged him, he clasped the
hand, and his face again wore a friendly expression.

Then Barbara laughed in her bewitching, bell-like tones and, like a
naughty child begging forgiveness for a trivial fault, asked him gaily
not to take offence at her foolish arrogance. All the new things here had
somewhat turned her silly brain. She knew how faithfully he served her
Charles, and for that reason she could not help liking him already.

"If you have any cause to find fault with me," she concluded merrily,
"out with it honestly." Then addressing Frau Lerch, not as though she
were speaking to a servant, but to an older friend, she asked her to
leave her alone with Herr Adrian a short time; but she insisted
positively on having her own way when the dressmaker remarked that she
did not know why, after the greatest secret of all had been forced upon
her, her discretion should be distrusted.

As soon as she had