; but she rebuffed in
the firmest manner every attempt to induce her to form this resolve.

In October the northeast wind brought cold weather, and Frau Traut feared
that remaining for hours in the chilly brick church would injure her
charge's health, so she entreated Barbara to desist. But when the latter,
without heeding her warning, continued to visit the house of God as
before, and to stay the same length of time, Frau Dubois interposed a
firm prohibition, and on this occasion she learned for the first time to
what boundlessly vehement rebellion her charge could allow passion to
carry her. True, soon after Barbara, with winning tenderness, besought
her forgiveness, and it was readily granted, but Frau Traut knew of no
other expedient than to fix the first of November, which would come in a
few days, for their return to Ratisbon.

Barbara was startled.

During the night her companion heard her weeping vehemently, and her kind
heart led her to her bedside.

With the affectionate warmth natural to her, she entreated the unhappy
girl to calm herself, and to open her troubled heart to one who felt as
kindly toward her as a mother; and before these friendly words the
defiance, doubts, and fear which had closed Barbara's heart melted.

"You may take it from me," she cried, amid her streaming tears. "What can
a poor girl give it save want and shame? Its father, on the contrary--If
he adopts and rears it as his child--O Frau Traut! dare I, who already
love it more than my own life, rob it of the happiness to which it has a
right? If the Emperor acknowledges it, whether it is a boy or a girl,
merciful Heaven, to what Magnificence, what splendour, what honour my
child may attain! My brain often reels when I think of it. The little
daughter of Johanna Van der Gheynst a Duchess of Parma, and why should he
place the girl whom I shall perhaps give him in a more humble position?
Or if Heaven should grant me a son, his father will raise him to a still
greater height, and I have already seen him before me a hundred times as
he hangs the Fleece on the red ribbon round his neck."

Here her voice, still uncertain, failed, but she allowed Frau Traut to
clasp her to her heart and, in her joy at this decision, which relieved
her of a grave anxiety, to kiss her brow and cheeks. She had at last
perceived, the kindly consoler assured the weeping girl, what the most
sacred duty commanded, and the course that promised to render her, after