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Rh they came to meet him he patted them on the head. Grandmother seeing their joy, said that animals knew well who was kind to them, and never forgot it.

"And is the Countess quite well?" asked the gamekeeper's wife, who also came to welcome Mr. Proshek home.

"They say she is, but I think she is not. Something must prey on her mind. She was always delicate, but now she seems only a spirit, and her eyes seem to look down from heaven, I could weep when I see her; she is an angel. The Princess is filled with sorrow and anxiety, and from the time the Countess was taken ill, there have been no merrymakings in our house. Just before her illness she was about to be betrothed to a certain Count. He comes from a wealthy family, and the Princess thinks a great deal of his parents, and was very desirous to have this marriage take place. I don't know what to think of it," added Mr. Proshek, shaking his head dubiously.

"And what does the Count say?" asked the women.

"What should he say? He must be content to wait till she gets well. If she dies he can put on mourning, if he really loves her. They say he wants to follow her to Italy."

"Does Hortense like the Count?" asked Grandmother.

"Who can tell! If she hasn't given her heart to any one else, she could learn to like him; he is a handsome man," replied Mr. Proshek.

"That is, if she doesn't like any one else," said the miller, passing his open snuff box to Mr. Pro-