The children watched Mademoiselle and Lord Yalding walk away.
"So the caretaker is Lord Yalding!" said Jimmy.
"And Mademoiselle is his friend."
"She's not his friend!" Mabel said scornfully.
"She's the lady he wanted to marry, but his uncle wouldn't let him.
She's the one who was sent to the convent!"
"And now the ring has brought them together," said Kathleen.
"I wonder if they'll be married tomorrow," said Mabel.
"Wouldn't it be fun if we were bridesmaids?" said Kathleen.
"I think Mademoiselle is very lucky." Mabel sighed.
Mademoiselle was also very happy.
Years ago her guardian had put her in the convent.
He'd said he didn't want her to lose her fortune by marrying a poor lord.
But he had really wanted her fortune for himself.
So he'd stolen all her money and run off to South America.
And she'd been left with nothing.
Mademoiselle had had to work in order to live.
She'd taken the job at Kathleen's school because it was near Lord Yalding's home.
She still loved him even though she thought he didn't love her anymore.
She didn't know that he had been looking for her all this time.
The day after the picnic, Lord Yalding came to the school.
He took everyone back to the castle in a wagon pulled by two fine horses.
The children wanted to explore the castle.
Mabel showed them all the secret doors and secret passages and secret stairs.
They ate lunch in the great hall.
It was where Mabel had first served them bread and cheese.
This time they ate a real meal served on silver dishes.
Gerald raised his glass of lemonade for a toast: "To Lord and Lady Yalding."
Mademoiselle's eyes were bright with tears of happiness.
"And by the way . . . ," Gerald said to Lord Yalding.
"I know you don't believe in the ring, but we do.
May we have it back?"
Lord Yalding handed him the ring.
But Lord Yalding and Mademoiselle could not be completely happy yet.
They had found each other, but they could not afford to live in the castle.
They talked of renting it to someone rich.
But they didn't know anyone with enough money.
"I have an idea," said Jimmy.
"Why don't you sell your jewels?"
"What jewels?" said Lord Yalding. "I don't have any jewels."
"I mean the ones in the paneled room with the stars on the ceiling.
There are shelves and shelves of beautiful family jewels.
You could sell them and . . ."
"Oh no!" cried Mademoiselle. "Don't sell the family jewels."
"There aren't any jewels, my lady," said Lord Yalding.
"Oh yes, there are," said Mabel. "Come and see."
"Let's see what Mabel shows us," said Mademoiselle.
"At least it will be amusing."
"It will be amusing," Jimmy promised.
Gerald and Kathleen stayed behind to help Mabel's aunt clean up.
So Jimmy and Mabel led the way to the treasure room.
Mademoiselle and Lord Yalding followed, holding hands.
"It's much safer to walk hand in hand," Lord Yalding said.
"You never know what will happen with these children."
Lord Yalding did not know what to think as he followed the children.
They seemed to believe in the magic ring.
They also seemed to believe the strange stories they told.
When they reached the treasure room, Mabel said, "Now you'll see."
The others gathered around her.
"There's a secret button here somewhere."
Mabel's fingers fumbled for the button.
"Where?" said Lord Yalding.
"Here," Mabel said impatiently. "Only I can't find it!"