“He has never had service so arduous as here, for the grand prior, Don Luis de Avila, is nothing to his Majesty except a dear old brother in arms, with whom he is fond of talking about the past.  Everything rests on my poor husband.  He said, a short time ago, that he would no longer endure playing the host to everybody who comes to San Yuste, being agent for everybody in Spain who desires anything from the Emperor Charles, and at the same time constantly caring for the person of the sick sovereign.  This life, he thinks, may suit a person who has taken leave of his property and the world, but he still clings to both, and especially to me, the poor wife who has been parted from him so long.  He has served the Emperor twenty-five years, and during this time he lost all his brothers in the war.  The estates came to him, and how long they have already been deprived of the master’s eye!

“Don Luis told the Emperor Charles all this, yet he refused him leave of absence to go to Villagarcia.  Instead, I was obliged to move near my husband, and am now living with Geronimo, in the wretched village of Cuacos, which is easily reached from San Yuste.  There I finally arrived with the boy whom the Virgin, in her inexhaustible mercy, gave to me, a poor, childless woman, to make me happy, although on his account I wronged my lord and husband by a sinful suspicion.

“Here I must begin my letter for the third time.

“It was fortunate that Geronimo left Massi and Leganes, for he was allowed to grow up there like a little savage.  Before learning to obey, he was permitted to command.—­No one opposed him, so in Villagarcia the first thing necessary was to accustom him to discipline, obedience, and the manners of the nobles.  The trouble was not great, and how richly the boy rewarded it!  He is now in his twelfth year, and how your good wife would stare, Adrian, if she could see her nursling again!  Do not suppose that it is blind partiality when I say that few handsomer lads could be found in all King Philip’s dominions.  His figure is slender and only slightly above middle height; but how erect and noble is his bearing, how symmetrically his pliant form is developing!  His delicately cut features and large blue eyes glow with the bold courage which fills his soul, and which he displays in riding, hunting, and fencing.  He still has his wealth of fair, waving locks.  Among a thousand other boys no one will overlook him.  Don Luis, too, admits that he was born to dignity and honour.  Every chivalrous and royal virtue is in his blood.  Even his mother could not sully it.”

Here Frau Traut paused to look at Barbara, who had listened, panting for breath.

She was sorry that she had not omitted the last sentence, but in the zeal of translating it had unconsciously escaped her lips, and, as she found no softening word, she went on: 

“Geronimo has become a dear child to me.  He thinks that I am his own mother, and clings to me with filial affection.  To lead such a son to this august father was the greatest joy that Heaven has bestowed upon me.