It was so long ere the interview between her mother and her guardian drew to a close, that the young girl at length ventured to the door, and knocking softly, begged for admission. Receiving no answer, but hearing her mother's sobs within, she opened the door boldly, and stood spellbound on the threshold at the sight of Lady Bryn Afon on her knees upon the floor, her arms clasped about the old man's neck, whose tears fell fast upon her bowed head. Neither stirred at her entrance, until, at the half-terrified cry of "Mother!" which burst from her lips, Lady Bryn Afon turned, and said in a voice choked with sobs: "Shanno--my sweet Primrose! Come hither, my child, and say that you can forgive an erring, sinful woman, even as her own beloved father has from his heart assured her that he has done! Come back, my darling, to the arms of this tender guardian of your youth and helpless infancy, and learn to call him by the loving name of grandfather! Let him, I pray you, hear you welcome him to this new title, which he has so long deserved for the fatherly love and care he has bestowed on you, and let the thought of your sweet dutifulness these many long years past comfort him for the sins your unhappy mother has committed against him! Father, she has been to you a better daughter than I, and I know how truly you have loved her--yet, I beseech you, suffer me to share but a little of the love you shower upon her, and I will be content, and rest assured of your forgiveness!" "Mother," said Primrose, trembling, "what does it all mean? Are you then my dear guardian's own daughter?--surely not that long-lost daughter whom he believed dead so many long years since, and of whom he has so often spoken to me? This is too wonderful!" "She is verily that long-lost daughter, sweetheart," said the old boatman, finding voice at last, and drawing Primrose close to him. "She is given back to me from the dead, praised be the name of the Lord; and you, whom I have nursed upon my knee, and worshipped in your infant beauty and maiden loveliness, you are no little strange nursling whatever, but indeed my own very flesh and blood! And my daughter is the Lady of Bryn Afon! Truly the 'ways of the Lord are wonderful, and his works past finding out!'" "I can scarce yet believe it is not a dream," said Primrose; "but, dear dad, it is too great a joy to know that I am indeed your own grandchild, and that now there is a link between us which, come what may, can never be broken!" "Can you truly rejoice, my child," said the old man tremblingly; "truly, in all the pride of your new-found honour, to know yourself the grandchild of old Jack the boatman, verily a man of honest, ay, and of ancient lineage, I trow, yet of humble birth and calling, and boasting no honour save that of having ever been accounted the faithful servant of your father's family?"