Constance pressed her hand over her heart and muttered: "Oh, John, I have been faithful to you, yet you doubted me--spurned me on that dreadful night I found Dorothy! She is gone from me now--gone, gone, gone!" and she bent forward, covering her face with her hands, and sobbed bitterly. "Thank heaven!" exclaimed Virginia, "reason's floodgates have opened at last." Sam again turned away to wipe his eyes, saying, "I cannot think what makes my eyes so sore." And John Thorpe exclaimed, with trembling lips, "My God, have mercy! I cannot bear this!" And he, too, turned as though to walk away. Mr. Harris held up a warning finger for him to stay. "My poor mama!" and Dorothy again went close to her, comprehending in her childish way that her mother was sorely distressed. The sound of the child's voice caught Constance's attention. She lifted her head and fixed her eyes on Dorothy. Then she fell forward on her knees, stretched out her hands and murmured: "Not gone, still here!" She touched the child's hands and uttered a low cry, continuing in quavering accents of fear, of hope, of joy: "Solid flesh; warm, pulsating life!" and she gently clasped the child's face between her two hands. "You cannot be a phantom! In the name of heaven, speak!" "Indeed, mama, I am your own Dorothy. Aren't you going to kiss me?" and the child again entwined her arms about her mother's neck and looked into her eyes with a wistful appeal. "Dorothy, my darling Dorothy, alive!" It was a moment of absorbing interest. For an instant she held the child at arms' length, with eyes devouring her lineaments. Then in a rapture of joy and thanksgiving she folded Dorothy to her heart and kissed her again and again. "Oh, heaven, I thank thee!" were the only words she could utter, as she strained the little form tighter to her heart. And as she looked upward, and the mist cleared from her eyes, she saw John bending toward her--saw him lift his arms and outstretch them to her--saw his lips part, and heard him say, as though his heart were in his mouth, "Constance, forgive me!" Oh, such sweet relief! Her gaze was steadfast for an instant, then arising to her feet, she fell on his breast and clasped her arms about his neck and sobbed, "John! My own dear John! I've had such a horrid dream!" He folded his arms about her and pressed her very close to his breast, and as his lips tremulously touched her forehead, said with heartfelt fervor: "God grant that we may never part again. No, nevermore, my darling Constance." "Thank heaven, she was only delirious!" fervently exclaimed Mr. Harris. "I guess so, eh, aunty?" and Sam, with a look of immense satisfaction, suddenly threw his arms about Virginia and gave her a tremendous hug, and to his inexpressible joy and amazement she reciprocated his caress. "Noble Sam, my hero, you have won my heart at last!"