"But how is it?" asked Margaret. "You have not told me yet. Is it all settled?" A silent embrace told that it was. "I may shake hands with you upon it, then. Oh, Hester, after all our longings for a brother, you are going to give me one! We are not alone in the world. My father,--our mother,--where are they? Do they know? Have they foreseen while we have been suffering so? Do they now foresee for us?" "There was not one word of his," said Hester, "that I should not have gloried in their hearing. So gentle, Margaret! so noble! so calm!" "And you?" said Margaret, softly. "Did you speak--speak openly?" "Yes: it was no time for pride. With him I have no pride. I could not have believed how I should tell him all: but he was so noble,--spoke so gloriously,--that it would have been an insult to use any disguise. He knows all that you know, Margaret,--and I am not ashamed." "I honour you," said Margaret. "Thank God, all is right! But where is Mr Hope all this time?" "He went away when I came in. You will see him in the morning." "Can you go down this evening? If you think you can--." "Go down! Yes:--this moment. I feel as if I could face the whole world." "Let me ask one thing. May I tell Maria in the morning? She will be so pleased! and no one but you understands my feelings so well. Everybody will rejoice with me; but I can say anything to her. May I tell her all in the morning?" "Dear Maria! Oh, yes: tell her from me, with my love. I know I shall have her blessing. Now let us go down." "But we must just settle how matters are to proceed," said Margaret. "Are the family to know or not?" "Oh, let all that take its chance!" said Hester. "I am sure I do not care. Let it be as it happens, for to-night at least." "For to-night at least," agreed Margaret. All was going on as usual below-stairs. The working of collars and of rugs was proceeding, as the family sat round the lamp. On the appearance of Hester and Margaret, the book, with the Society's cover on it, was produced; and it was requested that some one would read aloud, as it was necessary that forty pages a day should be gone through, to get the volume done by the time it must be sent to Mrs Enderby. Sophia asked whether some one else would be so good as to read this evening, as she thought she could finish her collar by keeping steadily to it till bedtime.