"I have come to ask your forgiveness, sir," said Alfred.
Old Wheels started to his feet, in joyful agitation. He understood it all immediately.
"My dear boy," he said, with a sob, taking Alfred's hand, "Not another word; not another word."
He pressed the young man to his heart and kissed him. Lily, hearing the voices, came into the passage.
"Come here, Lily," cried Old Wheels. "Come hear, dear child."
Lily flew into the room, and after the joy that this glad meeting brought to them, they settled down quietly, and talked, and thought, and hoped, while the evening shadows deepened. The tender movements she made towards Alfred and her grandfather, the expressions of exquisite happiness she uttered, almost unconsciously, every now and then, the loving caresses, the musical little laughs, the words, "O, I am so happy now! so happy!" that escaped again and again, like music from her lips, delighted the old man.
"We want Lizzie here," said Old Wheels tenderly.
"And Felix," thought Lily. This reunion seemed to bring Felix nearer to her.