," said she, "we have done you great injustice. You have been
ill rewarded for the pleasure which you gave me with the basket of
flowers, but at last your innocence has been made known. Can you ever
forgive my parents and me? We are ready to make amends as far as it
lies in our power. Forgive us, dear Mary."

Mary was distressed at these words, and begged the Countess not to talk
of forgiveness. "Considering the circumstances," she said, "you showed
great indulgence towards me, and it never entered my mind to nourish
the least resentment towards you. I had grateful thoughts of all your
kindness, and my only sorrow was that you and your dear parents should
regard me as ungrateful enough to be guilty of stealing your ring. My
great desire was that you might one day be convinced of my innocence,
and God has granted this desire. May His name be praised!"

The Countess pressed Mary to her heart, and bathed her face in tears.
Afterwards she looked at James's grave and, clasping her hands, she
cried out passionately, "Oh, noble man, whose body lies here, whom I
learned to love in my tender youth, whose affectionate counsels I have
often received, and whose fervent prayers I have so often listened to,
why cannot I see your face to ask pardon for all the injustice done
you? Oh, if we had only taken more precaution, if we had placed more
confidence in an old servant who had always shown unimpeachable honesty
and faithfulness, perhaps thou hadst still been living with us!"

"Believe me, good Countess," said Mary, "my father was far from feeling
the least resentment towards you. He prayed for you daily, as he was
accustomed to do when he lived at Eichbourg, and at the hour of his
death he blessed you all.

"'Mary,' said he to me, a little before he died, 'I feel confident that
those whom we once served will one day recognise your innocence, and
recall you from exile. When that day comes, assure the Countess and
Count and Amelia that my heart was full of respect and love and
gratitude towards them till my last breath.' These, my dear Countess,
were his last words."

The tears of the good Amelia flowed copiously. "Come, Mary," said she,
"and sit down here with me on the stone. We are safe here in the
sanctuary of the Lord. Let me tell you of all the strange events that
have happened."

CHAPTER XV.

THE YOUNG COUNTESS'S STORY.

Having made Mary sit down beside her, the young Countess began her
story.

"God is surel