There is some commotion going on below, the sound of which comes up to Christian in a confused murmur, in which she can only distinguish old Ailie’s voice. At first she takes no notice of it; then she begins to wonder what it can be, so strange are such sounds in this quiet and methodical house, though still she does not rise to inquire what it is. Christian is engrossed too much with her own thoughts; and as the sounds grow more indistinct, she bends her head again, and permits herself to be carried away once more in the current of her musings. But the step of old Ailie is coming up the stairs much more rapidly than that old footstep was wont to come; and as Christian looks up again in astonishment, Ailie rushes into the room, spins round it for a moment with uplifted hands, sobbing and laughing mingled, in joyful confusion, and then dropping on the floor, breathless and exhausted with her extraordinary pirouetting, throws her apron over her head, and weeps and laughs, and utters broken ejaculations till Christian, hastening across the room in great alarm to interrogate her, afraid that the old woman’s brain is affected, “What is the matter, Ailie?” Christian asks. “Tell me, what is the matter?” “Oh, Miss Christian!” and poor Ailie’s wail of sobbing mixed with broken laughter sounded almost unearthly in Christian’s ear. “Oh, Miss Christian! said I not, that the bairn of sae monie prayers suld not be lost at last?” “Ailie! Ailie! what do you mean? Have you heard anything of Halbert?” and Christian trembled like a leaf, and could scarce speak her question for emotion. “Ailie! I entreat you to speak to--to answer me.” And Christian wrung her hands in an agony of hope and fear, unwitting what to think or make of all this almost hysterical emotion of the old faithful servant, or of her enigmatical words. “Look up, dear Christian; look up!” Ailie needs not answer. Who is this that stands on the threshold of this well-remembered room, with a flush of joy on his cheek, and a shade of shame and fearfulness just tempering the glow of happiness in his eyes? “Halbert!” “Christian!” The brother and sister so fearfully and so long separated, and during these years unwitting of each other’s existence even, are thus restored to each other once more.