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Rh father; they cannot enjoy him enough after having missed him so long," replied Grandmother as she brushed the dust from the bench with her apron before asking the Countess to be seated.

"Yes, indeed, that was a long time, but I was to blame."

"Is one to blame, dear Countess, when God visits one with illness. All of us were so sorry for you and prayed every day that God would restore you to health. Health is a precious treasure that one is apt to value only when it is lost. It would have been a great pity to lose you, you are so young, and her grace, the Princess, would have been overwhelmed with grief."

"I know that well," sighed the Countess, placing her clasped hands upon a beautifully bound album that was lying in her lap.

"You are so pale, dear Countess, what ails you?" asked Grandmother, with great sympathy, looking upon Hortense, who seemed the embodiment of sorrow.

"Nothing, Grandma," replied the Countess, with a forced smile, which, however, only revealed the pain it was meant to conceal.

Grandmother did not venture any more questions, but she felt sure that physical illness was not the only thing that troubled the Countess.

After a moment of silence, the Countess began to inquire what had been going on in the cottage during her absence, and whether the children thought of her. Grandmother gladly told her, and in turn asked how the Princess was and what she was doing.

"The Princess rode to the gamekeeper's," re-