hen at the first
glance I recognised the basket of flowers which had never been out of
my mind since that sad day when you left Eichbourg. If there had been
any doubts in my mind as to it being the same basket, the initials of
my name and the coat-of-arms of my family would have dispelled them.
Turning to my companion, I asked if she knew anything of you and your
father. She told me all about your life at Pine Farm, your father's
sickness and death, and your great grief. After hearing all that the
gamekeeper's daughter could tell me, I went to the minister, only to
hear the same story with very much praise of yourself added. I would
have gone off to Pine Farm immediately, but while the story was being
told me, time had passed rapidly, and it was now already quite dark.
'What shall I do,' said I; 'it is now too late to go to the farm, but
to-morrow at daybreak we will set out.' Your good friend the minister
sent for the schoolmaster to charge him to go and bring you without
delay to the castle.

"'My dear young friend,' said the schoolmaster, 'you need not go far to
look for her. She has gone to her father's grave to weep there. Alas,
poor child!' he continued, 'I saw her sitting there from an opening in
the steeple when I went this afternoon to wind up the clock.'

"I at once determined to find you, and the minister wanted to accompany
me, but I begged to be allowed to come to you alone, that my first
meeting with you might be as affectionate as I desired. While I came
here the old minister went to tell my parents where I was, and to
prepare them for your arrival. This accounts, my dear Mary, for my
sudden appearance before you. You can now see, through God's
providence, this basket of flowers which separated us has reunited us
by your father's grave--that father who is now inhabiting the home
above."

"Yes," said Mary, clasping her hands and raising her grateful eyes to
heaven, "God has done it all. He has had pity on my tears and on my
needs. How can I thank Him for His goodness and His boundless
tenderness?"

"I have still one thing to tell you yet," answered the Countess Amelia,
interrupting her, "and it is one which seems to me singularly touching,
and inspires me with an awe for the justice of God who directs our lot
even when we are unconscious of it. My maid, Juliette, had but one
thought, one desire. It was to banish you from my heart and to take
your place in my affections. It was with that design that sh