o such leanings.
If Maximilian was intrusted with the reins of government, he would
perceive in what close and effective union stood the Church and the
state. Far from rousing his opposition by reproaches, the shrewd uncle
won his affection and merely sowed in his mind, by apt remarks, the seeds
which in due time would grow and bear their fruit.

The Austrians watched with sincere admiration the actually exhausting
industry of the illustrious head of their house, for he allowed himself
only a few hours' sleep, and when Granvelle had worked with him until he
was wearied, he buried himself, either alone or with some officers of
high rank, in charts of the seat of war, in making calculations,
arranging the levying of recruits and military movements, and yet did not
withdraw from the society of his Viennese relatives and other
distinguished guests.

Still, he did not forget Barbara. The leech was daily expected to give a
report of her health, and when, during the middle of June, Dr. Mathys
expressed doubts of her recovery, it rendered him so anxious that his
relatives noticed it, and attributed it to the momentous declaration of
war which was on the eve of being made.

When the sufferer at last began to recover, his selfishness was satisfied
with the course of events. True, he thought of the late springtime of
love which he had enjoyed as an exquisite gift of Fortune, and when he
remembered many a tender interview with Barbara a bright smile flitted
over his grave countenance. But, on the whole, he was glad that this love
affair had come to so honourable an end. The last few weeks had claimed
his entire time and strength so rigidly and urgently that he would have
been compelled to refuse Barbara's demands upon his love or neglect
serious duties.

Besides, a meeting between Barbara and his nephew and young nieces could
scarcely have been avoided, and this would have cast a shadow upon the
unbounded reverence and admiration paid him by the wholly inexperienced,
childlike young archduchesses, which afforded him sincere pleasure. The
confessor had taken care to bring this vividly before his mind. While
speaking of Barbara with sympathizing compassion, he represented her
illness as a fresh token of the divine favour which Heaven so often
showed to the Emperor Charles, and laid special stress upon the
disadvantages which the longer duration of this love affair--though in
itself, pardonable, nay, even beneficial--would have en