A circle of stones stood at the top of a hill, and stories say they were placed there by the ancient Celts. Later, the fairies moved in and protected the stones, so that anyone who meddled with them met with great misfortune.
Years later, a baron needed a large stone to finish building his manor house. In spite of warnings from his loyal advisors, he was determined to have one of the stones from the circle. He called for four horses to be hitched to his best wagon, and along with his workers, he proceeded up the hill. After many attempts, the workers were finally able to get the stone into the wagon. The stone was so heavy, though, that after they reached the manor house, the horses fell from exhaustion from the effort of pulling it. The wagon was broken and could not be repaired, and several workers became lame. Not daunted by these mishaps, the baron used the stone in his new home.
From that moment, everything went wrong. The crops on the baron's land failed year after year, and the livestock died one after another. With the food supplies so low, the baron's estate suffered to the point that he could not even pay his dues to the king.
It finally occurred to the baron that all of his misfortunes might be due to the stone he had brought from the top of the hill. He decided to take it back and summoned his workers. To his surprise, they were able to lift the huge stone into the cart with very little effort, and the horses drew the cart easily up the hill. Soon the stone was back in its place. From that moment, the baron's luck began to improve. In a short time, he was richer and happier than he had ever been before.
2. The baron grows fortunate again because.
A. the fairies decide that he has suffered enough.
B. he begins working harder for the things he wants.
C. his horses recover from their injuries.
D. he returns the stone to its place.