The formal introduction to each other of the (till then) personally unacquainted uncle and nephew; the full developing to the astonished mother and son of the fact, already inferred from what they had just witnessed, that this, their eccentric kinsman, was no other than the foster-father of Fluella,--that he was the owner of large tracts of the most valuable wild lands around these lakes, the oversight of which, together with the unexpected tutelary care of the Elwood family since their removal to the settlement, he had intrusted to the prudent and faithful Phillips,--and, finally, the melancholy mingling of sorrows for the untimely death of the fated brother, husband, and father of these deeply-sympathizing co-relatives, now, like chasing lights and shadows from alternating sunshine and cloud on a landscape, followed in rapid succession, in unfolding to the mournfully happy circle their mutual positions and bonds of common interest. “Evil has its antidotes,” remarked Arthur Elwood, as the conversation on these subjects began to flag and give room for other thoughts growing out of the association; “evil has its antidotes, and sorrow its alleviating joys. And especially shall we realize this, if the suggestions of that self-sacrificing girl, who has just addressed you so feelingly, be now followed. What say you, Claud?” “They will be,” promptly responded the young man, at once comprehending all which the significant question involved; “they will be, on my part, uncle Arthur, joyfully,--proudly.” “And you, Fluella?” persisted the saucy querist, turning to the blushing girl. “He has not asked me yet,” she quickly replied, with a look in which maiden pride, archness, and unuttered happiness, were charmingly blended. “If he should, and _you_ should command me”---- “Command? _command!_ Now, that is a good one, Fluella,” returned the laughing foster-father. “Well, well, a woman will be a woman still, any way you can fix it. All right, however, I presume. But, chief,” he added, turning to the natural father, who stood with the hunter a little in the background, “what has been going on here cannot have escaped your keen observation; and you ought to have a voice in this matter. “What do _you_ say?” “The chief,” replied the other, with his usual dignity, “the chief has had one staff, one light of his lodge; he will now have two. Wenongonet is content.” “It is settled, then,” rejoined the former, whose usually passionless countenance was now beaming with pleasure; “all right, all round. Now, sister Alice, let us all adjourn to your house, where you and Fluella, from some of those splendid lake trout which I and Mr. Phillips, who, as well as the chief, must be of the party, will first go out and catch for you,--you and Fluella, I say, must cook us up a nice family dinner, over which we will discuss matters at large, and have a good time generally.” In a few minutes more the happy group were on their way to the Elwood cottage.