The Well in the Desert

CHAPTER TWO.

HIDDEN TREASURE.

"Who hears the falling of the forest leaf? Or who takes note of every flower that dies?"

Longfellow.

The morning after Blanche and the arras had thus roughly dispelled Philippa's dream, the Lady Alianora sat in her bower, looking over a quantity of jewellery. She put some articles aside to be reset, dismissed others as past amendment, or not worth it, and ordered some to be restored to the coffer whence they had been taken. The Lady Alesia was looking on, and Philippa stood behind with the maids. At last only one ornament was left.

"This is worth nothing," said the Countess, lifting from the table an old bracelet, partly broken. "Put it with the others--or stay: whence came it?"

"Out of an ancient coffer, an't like your Ladyship," said Blanche, "that hath been longer in the castle than I."

"I should t