The worst of it is that it is my fault.
"Yes, it really is all my fault, Mrs.Maxa," and Apollonie went on to tell how this had come about.

Baron Bruno had only heard the news of his brother's marriage and his mother's death when he returned the first time years ago.

He left again immediately, and she was quite sure that he did not intend to return for a long while.

As no one had lived at the castle for so long, she had decided to put all the beautiful things safely away, in order to keep them from ruin and possible thieves.

So she had stored them in the attic, wrapped in sheets, and had locked the place up.
Apollonie had never doubted that she would be called to the castle as soon as the Baron returned, for she belonged there as of old and occupied the little gardener's cottage belonging to it.