It was a sad return; for, instead of the beloved father, nought remained but the sacred dust to be consigned to the silent grave. The servants gathered in reverence in the hall, as the family entered. Joy at their return was mingled with deep sorrow, for they had all loved kind Mr. Hamilton. In two days, arrangements were made for the interment; and, in the midst of his own people, and the surrounding neighborhood, he was laid by the side of his departed wife, and the service that he had loved whispered its sublime consolations over his grave. Roland returned to New York, and resumed the active duties of his daily life. Not long after Madeline's arrival, the old took, coming to her sitting-room, asked to see her for one moment. "Miss Madeline, there was a strange woman here the other day, inquiring when you would be at home; she spoke some queer language, I don't think it was an Irish tongue, and she called herself Elsie." "Did she say that she would come again, Betty?" inquired Madeline. "Yes; I told her when you were expected, and she said that she would come soon. She was very tired and hungry, and I gave her a good supper; that was right, was it not, Miss Madeline?" "Yes, Betty, do not turn any one away that wants something to eat from Woodcliff; we have a great deal to spare, and it is such a blessed thing to give." In about a week, Mrs. Douglass came down to pay a visit. Aunt Matilda was polite, for she was too kind-hearted to be rude in her own home. "Have you heard any thing from Mr. Bruce's father?" inquired Madeline. "Nae, not yet; but I hae advertised in several papers, an' hope that I may get some tiding afore lang." "It is strange that he should have left his family so suddenly, Mrs. Douglass." "He was aye an odd mon, Miss Hamilton, prone to fits of melancholy, an' we often feared that he wud gang crazy." After she had been a few days at Woodcliff, an old woman called to see her; in going to the hall, what was Mrs. Douglass' surprise to see Elsie Gibson! whom she immediately recognized. "Is that ye, Elsie?" said the lady, grasping her hand. "I'm owre glad to see yer face, ma'am; you were aye like yer brither Stephen." "Can ye tell me ony thing aboot him, Elsie? I hae a fancy that he is still amang us; and I maun find him." "It hae been a lang time syne he cam to this country, Mrs. Douglass, an' his family had na seen him for years." "There is property in Scotland which canna be settled until we find the heir, Elsie, an' if ye ken ony thing aboot him, will ye na tell his sister?" "His loss was published in the papers in America. Mrs. Douglass, an' that is a' that I can say, ma'am." Elsie would say no more, and spent the rest of her time in making inquiries after her kindred in Scotland. "Are ye na ganging home, Elsie?" continued Mrs. Douglass, "there is a comfortable hoose waiting for ye wi' your sister, and she is sair grieved that ye bide sae lang awa'."