With him gone, all eyes fixed themselves upon Mrs. De Peyster, and there was a profound and motionless silence in the room, save at first for some very sincere and vigorous snuffling into the handkerchiefs of Olivetta and Matilda. As for Mrs. De Peyster, she sat below the awesome, imperturbable Mrs. De Peyster of the portrait, and oh, what a change was there in the one beneath!--huddled, shaking, not a duchess-like line to her person, her face dropped forward in her hands. "Mother--" Jack breathed at length. "Caroline!" breathed Judge Harvey. Then added: "I'm sure it--it'll never become known." "Oh, to think it's all over--and we're out of it!" Olivetta cried hysterically. "Oh! Oh!" And she limply pitched sidewise in her chair. "Mees Harmon--Olivetta!" exclaimed M. Dubois. He sprang forward, knelt at her side and supported her wilted figure against his bosom. Upon this poultice to her troubles Olivetta relaxed and sobbed unrestrainedly. And no one, particularly Mrs. De Peyster, paid the least heed to this little episode. William, the coachman, the irreproachable, irreplaceable, unbendable William, his clean-shaven mask of a face now somewhat pale--William took a few respectful paces toward his resurrected mistress. "If you will not regard it as a liberty," said he, with his cadence of a prime minister, "I should like to express my relief and happiness at your restoration among us." "Thank you--William," whispered Mrs. De Peyster. William, having delivered his felicitations, bowed slightly, and started to turn away. But Matilda had stepped forward behind him, an imploring look upon her face. "Please, ma'am,--please, ma'am!" said she, in a tone that left no doubt as to her meaning. "Wait, William," weakly commanded Mrs. De Peyster. William paused. Mrs. De Peyster did not yet know what she was doing; her words spoke themselves. "William, Matilda has--has just confessed your engagement. She has also confessed how, during my--my absence--one night, after driving with you, she--she lost control of herself and seriously offended you. She asks me to apologize to you and tell you how very, very sorry she is." "Indeed, I am, William!" put in Matilda fervently. "It is my wish, William," continued Mrs. De Peyster, "that you should forgive her--and make up things between you--and never speak of that incident again--and be happy and stay with me forever." Matilda timidly slipped an arm through William's. "Forgive me, William!" said she appealingly. William's graven face exhibited a strange phenomenon--it twitched slightly. "Thank you, Mrs. De Peyster," said he. And bowing respectfully, with Matilda upon his arm, he went out. "Well, Mary, I guess we'd better be going, too," said Jack, taking his wife's hand. "Mother,"--respectfully, yet a little defiantly,--"I'm sorry that Mary and I have by our trespassing caused you so much inconvenience. But Mary and I and our things will be out of the house within an hour. Good-bye."