“Here they are, mother, with the ball dress in which I came to prison.” “Ah, that ball dress, put that on, it will do as well as another; or, no, you will perhaps have no time to change it afterward. Come down into my room, and put on your traveling dress at once. I have left it out with your bonnet; come, Elsie.” “If you please, ma’am, Dr. Hardcastle and Parson Wilson are downstairs, inquiring for you,” said a servant from the foot of the interdicted stairs. “Invite them into the back parlor, and say that I will be with them in a few minutes,” said Alice. “Come, Elsie, hasten, dear, and let me dress you.” She drew Elsie down. She felt no weakness or dizziness now. She was upheld by a strange excitement. Her cheeks and lips seemed burning, and her eyes blazing as with a hectic fever. Arrived in her own chamber, she quickly assisted Elsie to put on her traveling dress, smoothing her beautiful auburn ringlets, pressed her again fondly to her bosom, tied on her little beaver bonnet, and led her downstairs into the back parlor, where Dr. Hardcastle and the minister sat. Both forward, bowed, and shook hands. “Oh! for God’s sake have it over quickly, Magnus, lest my strength fail!” said Alice, trembling violently. The minister drew the prayer-book from his pocket and opened it. Elsie suddenly lost every vestige of color, and threw herself again into her mother’s arms. Alice pressed her passionately to her heart a moment, and then gave her up to Magnus, who took her hand, passed his arm around her waist to support her, and stood before the minister. In ten more minutes Magnus Hardcastle had the joy of clasping his wife to his bosom. “Thank Heaven that it is over! Oh-h-h! Ugh-gh-h! I felt my flesh creeping all the time, as if father were peeping over my shoulder,” exclaimed Elsie, shuddering, and burying her head under the arm of Magnus. “Yes, thank Heaven, it is over! It was short. A few solemn words of exhortation, a brief prayer, a briefer benediction, and now I possess you, without a doubt, or dispute—entirely. The laws of God and man give you to me alike, and no power under heaven can tear you from me, my own Elsie! my own wife!” said Magnus fervently, and almost crushing her in his arms. “Yes, thank Heaven it is over! The doubt, the struggle, and the fear is over. You are safe, Elsie. Your happiness, as far as human foresight can secure it, is insured,” said Alice, as she received Elsie once more from the arms of Magnus, and folded her in her own. “But you! Oh, my dear mother! you will be left without your child!” “Never regret me, my own darling. You go without your mother, but you go with your husband, and you are happy. Are you not, my Elsie?” “Oh, yes, yes, mamma.” “Well, I am left without my daughter, but I remain with my husband. Think that I am happy also,” said Alice, feeling thankful to Providence from the bottom of her heart, that Elsie was “innocent of the knowledge” of General Garnet’s tyranny over herself.