She hid her now radiant and blushing face upon his shoulder, and whispered: “But am I really and truly free from that horrid man—free to choose for myself?” “Yes, Brightie, you are free to give your own precious self to whom you will. Must I ask again for my wife?” He raised her head and gazed earnestly in her happy eyes. They told him all he wished to know, but her answer filled his cup of joy full to overflowing. “No, Robbie; I am blessed indeed if you will take me the second time.” Joyous tears glittered upon the heavy fringes of her eyes, and as he stooped and kissed her now scarlet lips she returned the caress with a pressure that thrilled to his heart’s core. “Come,” she then said, starting up; “let me take you to auntie. There she sits, looking as if she could not wait for us much longer.” They went down from the altar with beaming, radiant faces, and hand in hand approached the happy old lady, who had drawn Nina away the moment her darling had revived, feeling in the delicate kindness of her heart that their meeting was too sacred to be gazed curiously upon. When she saw by their happy looks that all was right, she wept and laughed by turns at her niece’s recovered joy, until they approached to ask her blessing. She greeted the young man with a warmth which convinced him at once that he had nothing to fear for his future from her. He had conversed with her only a few moments when these words fell upon his startled ear: “Robert, my son!” He turned and was clasped in a warm, fervent embrace, while the one word, “Father!” burst from his glad lips. CHAPTER XXXI. BAFFLED. We must go back to the moment when Ralph saw his uncle leave the room, fell the guard, and speed away through the mazy passages. He followed as well as he was able, for he was wholly unacquainted with the situation of the different cells and the way which led to them. Every few moments Ralph paused to listen, to catch the sound of the squire’s footsteps, and then hurried on. At last there was a moment of utter silence, then he heard the sharp clang of a heavy bolt as it was drawn from its socket, then the noise of an opening door, after which an almost satanic laugh echoed through those low vaults as Squire Moulton at last reached his victim. Ralph crept cautiously nearer. He did not wish to be seen by his uncle, and resolved not to interfere in any way, unless he should attempt violence. “Ha!” he heard the squire say, tauntingly, “I thought I’d bring you news of the wedding. Your——” Ralph could not catch the next word, though he strained his ears to do so—“has wedded the wealthy little lady, as I told you he would, and deeming it likely that you would be anxious to learn when it was all nicely over, I came to tell you.” “Cease, babbler, and leave; I would be alone,” replied Mr. Ellerton, commandingly.