"No, lady," replied Gaspard, "he is only our adopted child."
"But," interrupted Katherine, "he is as dear to us, as if he was our own."
The Countess then pointed to the cap, saying, as she did so—"How came this cap into your possession? He says it was his. I emplore you to tell me all you know about it."
"I will tell you everything, lady," replied Gaspard. He then shortly related how he had found and rescued the boy, how carefully he and his wife had treasured the little cap, of their settling at Feldsberg, and, lastly, of the treatment they had met with in consequence of their refusal to part with the cap. How it came to be where he now saw it he could not tell.
The Countess's tears fell fast during the recital; when it was ended, she turned to one of her women.
"Agatha," said she, "go and fetch the Count and my brother; tell them our child is restored to us." Then, clasping Francis in her arms, she said, as she tenderly embraced him, "I am indeed your mother; God has heard my prayers, and has restored you to me, my child! It was near Metz that you were taken from us. You wore this little cap the day we lost you. Oh! you will try and love us, now you are restored to us."
Then, taking the astonished child by the hand, the Countess approached the altar, and, kneeling on the steps, appeared to be engaged in silent prayer. Gaspard and his wife followed her example at a little distance; their hearts were also overflowing with thankfulness.
On rising from this act of devotion, the Countess turned to the good soldier, saying, as she did so—
"May heaven reward you, and your good wife! I cannot; only say what we can do to show our gratitude."
She was interrupted by the little Francis, who, leading Michael and John to her, said—