"See whom?" asked Mrs. Carew, with her hand at her heart. "Emilius. It is he and no other man who is coming here. He has a great stake in this house. He is justified." "My husband?" she gasped. "Is safe, if you will only be guided by me. It is your duty to be brave and strong. Never was courage more needed than at this moment. And not only courage, but wisdom. Decide quickly. There is no time to lose." "I will be guided by you," she said faintly. I threw open the door, and saw Emilius standing in the passage, uncertain which direction to take. "Enter," I said in a low tone. "Mrs. Carew is here. For the sake of others be gentle, and do not alarm the house." He entered, and Mrs. Carew and he stood face to face. The native dignity of the man instantly asserted itself. He removed his ragged cap and stood bareheaded before her. But there was no cringing in his attitude. It was perfectly respectful--something, indeed, more than that; it was the attitude of a man who once was this sweet lady's equal, and who, despite the judgment of the world, still knew himself to be her equal, and worthy of the esteem she once accorded to him. But as he gazed upon her, and she upon him, in silence for a few moments--a silence which I did not dare to break--his stern mood melted. He saw and recognised her, as he had always seen and recognised her in the time that was gone, when he was entitled to hold up his head among men--but never more so in truth and honour than now--a gentle-mannered lady, in whose face shone the reflex of a sweet and womanly nature. Remembrances of the past rushed upon him and softened him. "Forgive me," he said humbly. And then--tears filled my eyes as I saw it, and knew the suffering she was bravely enduring--she held out her hand to him. He bowed his head over it, as for a moment he held it in his. "I could not wait any longer," he said, softly. "I have entered like a thief into your house--but I have waited so long!" "It is I who should ask for forgiveness," she said. "Emilius, be merciful to me and mine!" "I have no thought of revenge," he said, in a voice as soft as her own. "I am a broken-down man, with one sole hope. But I could not stand before you, the Lauretta I loved with the pure love of a brother, if I did not know myself unstained by crime or any taint of dishonour." "I believe you, Emilius," she said. "You believe me, Lauretta!" he exclaimed, advancing a step towards her. "I believe you, Emilius," she repeated. Had he come with savage intent she could not more surely have disarmed him.