I looked round for uncle Bryan and my mother; they were not in the room, and the door was closed behind me. Then I understood it all. 'Have you come back for good, Jessie?' I asked. 'I can't hear you,' she replied, 'you are so far away!' I stepped close to her side, and my arm stole round her waist; she sighed happily. 'Have I come back for good?' she repeated. 'That is for you to decide, Chris.' 'You are in earnest with me, Jessie?' She smiled. 'I saw you yesterday,' she said. 'Where?' 'When you came to see your uncle Bryan; I have been living in the same house, on the first floor, Chris, where the finest flowers are. Do you begin to understand?' 'Tell me more, Jessie. Did mother know you were living there?' 'Yes, and Josey West, and Turk also. Nearly all that money Turk borrowed of you was for me to pay what Mr. Rackstraw said I owed him. Would you have lent it to him if you had known?' 'You must answer that question for me, Jessie,' I said, still uncertain of the happiness that was in store for me. We were standing by the mantelshelf, on which lay a little packet in brown paper. Jessie took it in her hand. 'Mother told me to give you this, Chris. Stay, though; what is that round your neck?' 'The ribbon you gave me, Jessie.' 'And the locket, where is that?' 'It is here, Jessie.' I showed it to her; the earnest look that was struggling to her eyes came into them fully. 'You did not cast me quite away, then? Have you always worn it, Chris?' 'Always, Jessie.' 'I am glad, I am glad,' she murmured, and presently said, 'Here is your packet, Chris.' I opened it, and found the watch and the ivory brooch I had intended to give Jessie on her birthday. 'Do you know what is in this packet, Jessie?' 'No, Chris.' I took the trinkets out of the paper: 'I bought them as a birthday present for you, Jessie. Look at what is engraved inside the watch, and if you can accept it, you will make me very happy.' She opened the case and read: 'From Chris to Jessie, on her eighteenth birthday. With undying love.' Her eyes were fixed upon the inscription for a much longer time than was necessary for the reading and understanding of the words. When she raised them, tears were glistening in them. 'Will you fasten it for me, Chris?' she said, in a low soft tone. With an ineffable feeling of happiness I placed the slender chain about her neck, and while my arms were round her, she raised her face to mine, and I kissed her. A few minutes later, while we were still alone, Jessie said, 'You know why I left home on my birthday, Chris?' 'I know all, Jessie.' 'And yet not quite all, I think. I shall have no secrets from you, Chris, not one. I believe I should have left soon afterwards, even if it had not been for my mother's letter, and for the discovery that uncle Bryan was my father.' 'For what reason, Jessie?' 'You do not suspect, then?' 'I have a dim suspicion, dear, but I would prefer you to tell me.'