you how the ring was found. My father's affairs
requiring his presence at Eichbourg, we left Court earlier than usual
this year--in the beginning of March. When we arrived at the Castle,
the weather was very boisterous, and one night in particular we had a
tremendous storm. You remember the great pear tree we had in our garden
at Eichbourg? It was very old, and bore scarcely any fruit. That night
the wind, which blew with great violence, had shaken it so much that it
threatened every moment to fall, and my father ordered it to be cut
down.

"My father, and mother, the children, and servants, and indeed all of
the people in the Castle, came into the garden to see it fall. As soon
as it was cut down, my two little brothers ran immediately towards a
magpie's nest in the tree, which had for a long time been a coveted
object, but had hitherto been out of their reach. Now they seized upon
the nest and busied themselves examining its contents.

"'Look, Albert!' said Augustus, 'what is that shining among the twigs?
How bright it is!'

"'It sparkles like gold,' said Albert.

"My maid, Juliette, ran forward to look at it, and immediately uttered
a scream.

"'Oh,' she cried, 'it is the ring!' and became as pale as death.

"The children extricated the ring from among the twigs, and carried it
in great glee to my mother.

"'Yes, indeed it is my ring,' said my mother, with deep emotion. 'Oh,
good and honest James! oh, poor Mary, what injustice we have done you!
I am glad enough to find my ring again, but if I could find James and
Mary, I would gladly sacrifice the ring to repair the wrong which we
have done them.'

"I was curious to know by what chance the ring was carried into the
magpie's nest at the top of the tree, and the old huntsman, Anthony,
gave a ready explanation.

"'Neither the gardener James nor his daughter could have hidden the
ring in this place, that is very clear,' said he. 'The tree was too
high, and it would have been impossible to climb up so far. Besides
which, they had not time to do so. Mary had scarcely returned to the
house when she and her father were both arrested. Magpies are greatly
attracted by anything that shines, and if they can find anything
sparkling, they carry it off immediately to their nests. One of these
birds must have stolen the ring, and carried it to the tree. That is
all the mystery. The only thing that astonishes me is that an old
hunter, as I am, should not have thought soo