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The next spring, when the country was covered with verdure and flowers, the count, accompanied by his wife, his daughter, and Mary, went to his home at Eichbourg.

Immediately after leaving Pine Farm, Mary went with the count’s family to the city, in which they spent part of every year. While they were there, a clergyman came one morning to their residence and asked to see Mary.

In the course of time, when arrangements had been made for their reception, a carriage was sent from Eichbourg to bring away the old farmer and his wife. Their son was grieved to the heart when the time came for them to go, but their daughter-in-law had counted the days and hours until the time…

The count and his family were just on the eve of leaving for Eichbourg, and the next morning at break of day all was bustle in the castle, preparing for their departure. Amid all the preparations, however, Mary was not forgotten, and each one vied with the other in the attention they paid to her.

The count, the countess, and the guests who were at the castle, were assembled in the drawing-room when Amelia and Mary entered. The worthy minister had arrived before them and had been reciting to a deeply-interested audience, the story of James and Mary and their life at Pine Cottage.

The road to the castle towards which the countess now led Mary lay through a long, dark walk of tall old linden trees. For a while they walked in silence together, each wrapped in her own thoughts, but at last, the countess said to Mary—

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

Mary sat down on the stone near the wall shaded by the thick foliage of a tree which covered her with its dark branches. Here she poured out her soul in fervent prayer to God.

The months sped on, and now her father’s birthday anniversary arrived. Until then it had always been a day of great joy to Mary, but this time, when the day dawned, she was bathed in tears.

After her father’s death, Mary was no longer the bright happy girl she had been before. Even her favourite flowers seemed to have lost all their beauty, and the pine trees near the farm looked as though they were clothed in mourning.