“Is it true, Mr. Charteris, is it true?” said Agnes, while Harry, still perfectly tremulous and unsteady, threw Rose’s work after Martha’s, and shaded his eyes with his hands, lest they should see how near weeping he was--“Tell us if it is true.” Harry started to his feet. “True! do you think he would tell us anything that was not true? Mr. Charteris, if they were not all better than me, I would think it was a delusion--that neither such an inheritance nor such a friend could come to my lot. But it’s for them--it’s for them! and a new beginning, a new life--Martha, we shall not be worsted this time--it is God has sent us this other battle-field.” And Harry, with irrestrainable emotion, lifted up his voice and wept. His little wife clung to his shoulder, his stern sister bent over him with such an unspeakable tenderness and yearning hope in her face, that it became glorified with sudden beauty--and Cuthbert remembered uncle Sandy’s thanksgiving, and himself could have wept in sympathy for the solemn trembling of this joy; for not the sudden wealth and ease, but the prospect of a new life it was which called forth those tears. “And what did my uncle say, Mr. Charteris,” said Rose, when the tumult had in some degree subsided. No one but Rose remembered that Cuthbert had spoken of a message from uncle Sandy. “He bade me repeat to you a homely proverb,” said Cuthbert, who was quite as unsteady as the rest, and had been a good deal at a loss how to get rid of some strange drops which moistened his eyelashes. “It takes a strong hand to hold a full cup steady; that is the philosophy I brought from your uncle.” “No fear,” said Harry, looking up once more with the bright clear loveable face, which no one could frown upon. “No fear--what could I do with my arms bound? What could I do in yon office? but now, Martha, now!” And Martha once more believed and hoped, ascending out of the depths of her dreary quietness into a very heaven. Few have ever felt, and few could understand this glorious revulsion. With an impatient bound she sprang out of the abyss, and scorned it with her buoyant foot. It might not last--perhaps it could not last--but one hour of such exulting certain hope, almost worth a lifetime’s trial. “And I will get a little room all to mysel, and Katie Calder will come and sleep with me,” said Violet. They all laughed unsteadily. It brought them down to an easier level. “I think, Mr. Muir you should come at once with me to Edinburgh,” said Cuthbert, “and see your lawyer, who has been hunting for you for some time, and get the proof and your claim established. I begin to think it was very fortunate he broke his leg, Miss Muir--for otherwise I might never have seen you.” “And what made you think of us? how did you guess?” said Harry. “Rose and Violet,” said Cuthbert, with a little shyness. “It was a happy chance which gave these names.”