The only difficulty now was to reconcile ourselves with Molly's father. The comedy was nearly at an end. I donned my disguise once more, and we started off together after the wedding breakfast to our native village, and driving up to old Sykes' house, we knocked at the door. We entered, and I introduced myself as his son-in-law. He received us well, and wished us both health and prosperity. I did not know exactly how to break the ice, so I reflected a moment. "Mr. Sykes," said I, still in my feigned voice, "I shall expect you this evening to dine with me at six o'clock at the 'Headless Lady.' Come, I will take no refusal. If we are to be friends together, I shall expect you, if not----" He began to make an excuse about his gouty leg, saying that he never left the house. "Oh, nonsense," said I, "that is just the reason you never get well. Going out now and then will do you good. I am a doctor, you know, and I advise you for your good. If you do not like to walk, make use of our coach." He still hesitated, and at length said, "Well, the fact is, I never go to that house. The landlord and I are not friends. We have had some differences together of long standing, and----" "Nonsense," said I, "that is no excuse at all. All men have differences now and then, but we must learn to forget and forgive." "No," said Sykes; "he was very much in the wrong." "Well, I've no doubt that he thinks you are in the wrong," said I. "Dine with me this evening there, and I'll undertake to make matters straight for you both. Hearty is a good and honest man, and is one of my best friends. I have known him these nineteen years. If you refuse to come, it will be an offence to me, mind that." After a time I succeeded in softening him down a little, till I at length drew from him a reluctant consent, and, according to his word, he appeared that evening at our inn. A grand dinner was prepared, before partaking of which I succeeded in joining the hands of the two bitter enemies. Seeing that the hour had arrived for the divulging of the secret I explained all in a few words, threw off my disguise and craved his blessing. Old Sykes was a crusty sort of a cove, and I expected that there would have been a scare, but we had got him into a good humour previously, and he was so much amused, in spite of himself, at the whole scheme that he wrung my hand heartily and laughed much over my odd adventures. Dinner passed off gaily, and I secretly put the doctor in possession of his old clothes again. I paid him the money I owed him, and for ever kept secret the name of the doctor who had brought me to life again so cleverly. * * * * * "Why, Jack," said Mr. Oldstone, at the conclusion of our host's recital, "you can tell a story like the best of us." "Ay, that he can indeed," chimed in Mr. Crucible and Mr. Hardcase. "There is a great deal of poetry in Jack's story," remarked Mr. Parnassus.