The Countess Itha 221

she had given it, she laid it on a table in the
window-bay, and busied herself with the
bridal finery; and while she was so busied
she was called away to some cares of her
household, and left the chamber.

When she returned to put away her mar-
riage treasures, the betrothal ring was miss-
ing. On the instant a cold fear came over
her. In vain she searched the coffer and
the chamber; in vain she endeavoured to
persuade herself that she must have mislaid
the jewel, or that perchance the Count had
seen it, and’partly in jest and partly in re-
buke of her carelessness, had taken it. The
ring had vanished, and in spite of herself she
felt that its disappearance portended some
terrible evil. Too fearful to arouse her hus-
band’s anger, she breathed no word of her loss,
and trusted to time or oblivion for a remedy.

No great while after this, as the Swabian
page was rambling in the wood near the con-
vent, he heard a great outcry of ravens
around a nest in an ancient fir-tree, and
prompted partly by curiosity to know the
cause of the disquiet, and partly by the wish
to have a young raven for sport in the win-