ishness on Felix's part, promised to do his best to save the
robber from the punishment due his crimes.

On the same day, the count took the young goldsmith, accompanied by the
stout-hearted huntsman, to his palace, where the countess, still
anxious for the fate of the young man, was waiting for news from the
forest. Who could describe her joy when her husband entered her room,
holding her deliverer by the hand? She was never through questioning
and thanking him; she brought her children and showed to them the
noble-hearted youth to whom their mother owed so much, and the little
ones seized his hands, and the child-like way in which they spoke their
thanks and their assurances that, next to their father and mother, they
loved him better than any one else in the whole world, were to him a
most blessed recompense for many sorrows, and for the sleepless nights
he had passed in the robbers' camp.

After the first moments of rejoicing were over, the countess beckoned
to a servant, who presently brought the clothes and the knapsack that
Felix had turned over to the countess in the forest inn. "Here is every
thing," said she, with a kindly smile, "that you gave me on that
terrible night; they enveloped me with a glamour that blinded my
pursuers. They are once more at your service; still I will make you an
offer for these clothes, that I may have some mementoes of you. And I
ask you to take in exchange the sum which the robbers demanded for my
ransom."

Felix was confounded by the munificence of this present; his nobler
self revolted against accepting a reward for what he had done
voluntarily. "Gracious countess," said he, deeply moved, "I can not
consent to this. The clothes shall be yours as you wished; but the
money of which you spoke I can not take. Still, as I know that you are
desirous of rewarding me in some way, instead of any other reward, let
me continue to be blessed with your best wishes, and should I ever
happen to be in need of assistance, you may be sure that I will call on
you." In vain did the countess and her husband seek to change the young
man's resolution; and the servant was about to carry the clothes and
knapsack out again, when Felix remembered the ornament, which the
occurrence of these happy scenes had put out of his mind.

"Wait," cried he; "there is one thing in my knapsack, gracious lady,
that you must permit me to take; every thing else shall be wholly and
entirely yours."

"Just as you pleas