"But why--" began Cynthia afresh. "Oh, don't let's try to puzzle over it any more just now!" interrupted Joyce. "My head is simply in a whirl. I can't even _think_ straight! I never had so many surprises all at once in my life. I think he will explain everything we don't understand. Let's just wait!" There were faint sounds from the drawing-room, but they were indistinguishable,--low murmurings and half-hushed sobs. The two reunited ones within were bridging the gulf of forty years. And so the girls continued to wait outside, in the silence and in the dark. CHAPTER XVII IN WHICH ALL MYSTERIES ARE SOLVED At last the two on the staircase heard footsteps approaching the door, and a pleasant voice called out: "Where are you both, little ladies? Will you not come and join us? I think we must have some things to be explained!" They came forward, a little timidly, and their latest visitor held out a hand to each. "You wonderful two!" he exclaimed. "Do you realize that, had it not been for you, this would never have happened? My mother and I owe you a debt of gratitude beyond all expressing! Come and join us now, and we will solve the riddles which I'm sure are puzzling us all." He led them over to the sofa, and placed them beside his mother. Never was a change more remarkable than that which had come upon Mrs. Collingwood. Her face, from being one of the saddest they had ever seen, had grown fairly radiant. She looked younger, too. Ten years seemed suddenly to have dropped from her shoulders. Her brown eyes flashed with something of their former fire, and she smiled down at them as only the Lovely Lady of the portrait had ever smiled. There was no difficulty now in identifying her with that picture. "Oh, please--" began Joyce, breathlessly, "won't you tell us, Mr. Collingwood, how you come to be--_not dead!_--and why you gave another name at the door--and--and--" He laughed. "I'll tell you all that," he interrupted, "if you'll tell _me_ who 'Joyce Kenway' is!" "Why, _I_ am!" said Joyce in surprise. "Didn't you guess it?" "How could I?" he answered. "I never supposed it was a _girl_ who sent me that note. I did not even feel sure that the name was not assumed to hide an identity. In fact, I did not know what to think. But I'll come to all that in its proper place. I'm sure you are all anxious to hear the strange story I have to tell.