'Yes, dear,' she said gently, 'I know how great the relief must be. And now, Jack, let us forget the sad past. The Squire, David Bayfield, is not a strong man, and cannot hunt or ride to cover, but he has done much for the estate, and Bet and he are good to the poor, and kind--how kind--to the sad and sorrowful. Now I must go and tell your mother I have heard of you.' 'But first--first, Bryda, tell me, can you love me? It is too much to ask, I know; but I have made money out in America, and if you can care for a stupid fellow like me--you are so clever and so beautiful. Oh, Bryda, can you care for me at last?' 'I think I can, Jack,' she said, with a sweet smile. 'Ten years of separation have taught me many things, and one is--' He put his arm round her and drew her towards him. 'And one is,' she whispered, 'that I have always loved you, and that, though you never knew it, I should never, never have married any man but you.' Sweet were the mutual happiness and thankfulness of that May day to Jack Henderson and Bryda; and as they sat for a few blissful minutes in the arbour, which had been Mrs Henderson's pride in earlier days, Bryda said,-- 'All through these long years I have never lost hope, and although, as poor Chatterton said, "She did seem to take her high flight, shrouded in mist, and with her blinded eyes," I always knew I should greet her some day--"the holy sister, sweeping through the sky in crown of gold and robe of lily white." I shall have to make you love Chatterton's poetry, Jack. Poor boy, I never forget him. You _must love_ poetry now, Jack.' 'I shall love you,' Jack said firmly. 'Won't that be enough for a dullard like me?' 'No, not _quite_ enough,' she said, laughing. 'And now wait here while I go and tell your mother that the wanderer is come home.' THE END. COLSTON AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. +-----------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber's Note: | | | | Inconsistent hyphenation, punctuation and | | spelling in the original document have been | | preserved. | | | | Typographical errors corrected in the text: | | | | Page 36 neeedlework changed to needlework | | Page 37 missing quotes added | | Page 41 whether changed to whither | | Page 53 missing quote added | | Page 54 tonight changed to to-night | | Page 61 Dorory changed to Dowry | | Page 62 auther changed to author | | | +-----------------------------------------------+