She lay in his arms, quiet and happy. Heaven's light was never sweeter than that which shone within her wakened soul. CHAPTER XXXII. LEONARD MEETS WITH A FELLOW-SCOUNDREL. The few months that passed were the happiest period in Emilia's life. Gerald's love, his care and devotion, his wonderful thoughtfulness, were in their effect something like divine revelations to the tender-hearted and confiding young girl, who was enjoying a very heaven upon earth. Leonard joined them in Interlaken, as had been arranged, and accompanied them through the loveliest parts of Switzerland and Italy. Gerald's plan was not to rush from place to place, but to proceed leisurely from one scene of loveliness to another, and to linger and dawdle wherever the fancy seized them. It suited Leonard, who could make little detours to neighboring cities which offered greater attractions to him, and he never went away from them without making it understood that it was for their sake, and not for his own, that he left them. "I know what young people like yourselves enjoy most," he said, "their own society. I am like the fifth wheel in a coach." Gerald did not dispute with him on this point. Much as he loved Leonard he loved Emilia more, and his greatest happiness was derived from that delicious intercourse of soul and soul which can only be made manifest when lovers are alone together. "Leonard is the dearest fellow in the world," he said to Emilia, "and I don't know what we should do without him. You do not know what we owe him. If it had not been for him I doubt if you would be with me at the present moment." Emilia was only too willing to subscribe to this affectionate estimate of Leonard's character; she grew, like Gerald, to have never one moment's doubt of the sincerity of his affection. From this it will be seen how thoroughly the villain had succeeded in deceiving them. Giving himself up entirely to the blissful enjoyment of the present, Gerald, at the instigation of Leonard, had delivered over to him the management of his monetary matters. Leonard thus became a kind of steward to Gerald's estate, and so absolutely did he succeed in getting matters into his hands that he now drew all the checks for the current expenses of the tour, supplying Gerald with loose cash as the young man required it. Ostensibly, therefore, Leonard, was the master and Gerald the dependent. In this manner five months of happiness passed, and then it was that Emilia, with burning blushes and a palpitating heart, whispered to Gerald the solemn, joyful news that a new life was born within her. "If anything was needed to complete my happiness," said Gerald, pressing his wife fondly to his heart, "it was this."