"Yes," said the Dvike, "I do: your lover will



MY OWN STORY 331

trouble me no more, and I can dispose of you
as I wm."

After the Princess had received the betrothal
ring, she went back to her rooms, hoping that in
three days her sufferings would be terminated,
but when the third day passed, she concluded
that it would be in three weeks that she should
die.
The marriage was celebrated by proxy, and
Isabella left Parma for Vienna. Directly the
Emperor saw his beautiful young wife he fell
desperately in love with her, and she received
all his protestations of affection with a sad
dignity which was infinitely appealing.
