When Alice came in, she heard Arthur cough, and hurried up; but before she reached the top of the second stair, she heard a laugh which, though feeble, was of such merry enjoyment, that it filled her with wonder and gladness. Had the fairy god-mother appeared at last? What could have come to make Arthur laugh like that? She opened the door, and all was explained: there sat the one joy of their life, their brother Richard, looking much like himself again! What a healer, what a strength-giver is joy! Will not holy joy at last drive out every disease in the world? Will it not be the elixir of life, and drive out death? She sprang upon him, and burst out weeping. “Come and have supper,” he said. “I've been out to buy it, and haven't much time to help you eat it. My father and mother don't know where I am.” Then he told her what he had been about. It was with a happy heart he made his way home, for he left happy hearts behind him. He wondered that his mother was not surprised to see him--wondered too why she looked so troubled. “What does this telegram mean?” she asked. “I don't know, mother,” he replied. “Won't you give me a kiss first?” She threw her arms about him. “You won't give up saying _mother_ to me, will you?” she pleaded, fighting with her emotion. “It will be a bad day for me when I do!” he answered. “My mother you are and shall be. But I don't understand it!” The telegram let him know that sir Wilton and his grandfather had been in communication, and gave him hope that things might be accommodated between him and his father. “You've got your real father now, Richard!” said his mother. But she saw an expression on his face that made her add,-- “You must respect your father, Richard--now you know him for your father.” “I can't respect him, mother. He is not a good man. I can only love him.” “You have no right to find fault with him. He was not to blame that I carried you away when your mother died! I was terrified at your stepmother!” “I don't wonder at that, mother!--Ah, now I begin to understand it all!--But, mother, if my father had been a good man, I don't believe you would hare carried me away from him!”