Produced by David Clarke and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net THE BASKET OF FLOWERS [Illustration: "An officer came to Mary's cell." _See page 36._] THE BASKET OF FLOWERS By CHRISTOPH VON SCHMID With Illustrations By WATSON CHARLTON and W. E. EVANS. Published by JOHN F. SHAW & CO., LTD., 3, Pilgrim Street, London. PUBLISHER'S NOTE In putting forward a new edition of _The Basket of Flowers_ no apology is needed. This charming story is now something of a children's classic, and the only merits that the publisher can claim for the present edition are variety in the manner of the illustration and the outward design of the book. To these may be added, perhaps, the further claim that in the present English version, which is copyright, some of the more glaring faults that mar the original translation are avoided. For the rest, it is hoped that the charm of the original has been maintained. CONTENTS CHAP. Page I. THE GARDENER'S DAUGHTER 1 II. THE BASKET OF FLOWERS 12 III. THE MISSING RING 21 IV. MARY IN PRISON 30 V. THE TRIAL 36 VI. A PAINFUL MEETING 42 VII. SENTENCED 49 VIII. FINDING NEW FRIENDS 58 IX. A NEW HOME 65 X. A FATHER'S LAST WORDS 72 XI. MARY'S GREAT LOSS 82 XII. CHANGES AT PINE FARM 90 XIII. AGAIN A WANDERER 97 XIV. A STRANGE MEETING 104 XV. THE YOUNG COUNTESS'S STORY 108 XVI. HOW THE RING WAS FOUND 115 XVII. REPARATION 123 XVIII. PINE FARM REVISITED 127 XIX. RETRIBUTION 134 XX. FORGIVING AN ENEMY 140 XXI. CONCLUSION 145 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AN OFFICER CAME TO MARY'S CELL _Frontispiece_ _Facing p._ MARY SHYLY OFFERED HER PRESENT 16 "OH, MY FATHER, BE SURE THAT I HAVE NOT THE RING" 32 SHE RAISED HERSELF HASTILY, FORGETTING HER CHAINS 48 SHE THREW THE BASKET AT MARY'S FEET 64 LOOKING UP SHE SAW THE BEAUTIFUL FACE AND FIGURE OF A WOMAN 96