Her words mystified Max, and he was on the point of asking her to explain.

He loved and pitied her, and would have put his arm around her waist to comfort her, but she sprang to her feet, exclaiming:-- "No, no, Little Max, let us save all that for our farewell.

You will not have long to wait." Wisdom returned to Max, and he knew that she was right in helping him to resist the temptation that he had so valiantly struggled against since leaving Basel.
All that I had really hoped for in Styria, all our fair dreams upon the castle walls of Hapsburg, had come to pass.

Max had, beyond doubt, won the heart of Mary of Burgundy, but that would avail nothing unless by some good chance conditions should so change that Mary would be able to choose for herself.

In such case, ambition would cut no figure in her choice.