She gazed and gazed, till she could have fancied her very destiny was in some way connected with the Queen's visit to Segovia--that some mysterious influences were connecting her, insignificant as she was, with Isabella's will.

She strove with the baseless vision; but it would gain ground, folding up her whole mind in its formless imaginings.

The sight of her husband, conversing eagerly with the sovereign, in some degree startled her back to the present scene.

His cheek was flushed with exercise and excitement; his large dark eyes glittering, and a sunny smile robbing his mouth of its wonted expression of sternness.

On passing his mansion he looked eagerly up, and with proud and joyous greeting doffed his velvet cap, and bowed with as earnest reverence as if he had still to _seek_ and win her.