w full of majesty, the Christ-child looked,
how touching a grace surrounded the band of angels playing on violins
above the purest of mothers!

Then the necessity of appealing to her in prayer seized upon him, and
with fervent warmth he besought her to surround with her gracious
protection the young life which owed its existence to him.

He did not think of the child's mother. Was he still angry with her?

Did she seem to him unworthy of being commended to the protection of the
Queen of Heaven? Barbara was now no more to him than a cracked bell, and
the child which she expected to give him, no matter to what high' honours
he raised it, would bear a stain that nothing could efface, and this
stain would be called "his mother."

No deviation from the resolve which he had expressed to the physician was
possible. The child could not be permitted to grow up amid Barbara's
surroundings. To prevent this she must submit to part from her son or her
daughter, and to take the veil. In the convent she could remember the
happiness which had once raised her to its loftiest height. She could and
must atone for her sin and his by prayers and pious exercises. To return
to the low estate whence he had raised her must appear disgraceful to
herself. How could one who had once dined at the table of the gods still
relish the fare of mortals? Even now it seemed inconceivable to him that
she could oppose his will. Yet if she did, he would withdraw his aid. He
no longer loved her. In this hour she was little more to him than the
modest casket to which was confided a jewel of inestimable value, an
object of anxiety and care. The determination which he had confided to
his physician was as immovable as everything which he had maturely
considered. Don Luis Quijada should provide for its execution.

CHAPTER IV.

Dr. Mathys had himself carried in the litter from the Golden Cross to
Barbara.

This errand was a disagreeable one, for, though the Emperor's remark that
he had yielded to the rare charm of this woman was not true, his kindly
heart had become warmly attached to Barbara. For the first time he saw in
her the suffering which often causes a metamorphosis in certain traits in
a sick person's character extend their transforming power to the entire
nature. Passionate love for her art gave her the ability to maintain with
punctilious exactness the silence which he had been compelled to impose
upon her, and the once impetuous, obstinate c