"Oh," she cried, "this is, indeed, madness, for it was by chance only that you came to Inglethorpe."
"Ay, it seems as though it were chance on the face of it. But that kindly chance, perchance the beckoning of the dead hand, hath but hastened the meeting I sought, for I was on my way to seek you in the plantations. Here is my witness," he continued, taking a letter from his breast. "When I fled from London I carried this with me, that it might be mine advocate with your father. It seemed to me scarce honourable to show it you in England, and force myself on you after such a fashion; but seeing the turn things have taken, it is your right to see it. It will at least bear me witness that this chance is but the sequel of what hath gone before."
The letter bore the address: "To my loving friend, Major-General Harrison. These——" It was sealed with the Perrient coat-of-arms. The letter from the dead man to his dead friend had come back.
A sudden memory flashed across Audrey. "You say all this because your minister bade you," she cried.
"Do you, indeed, think me so docile?" he answered, with a laugh that was almost angry.
"I know not what to think of any one," she answered piteously, while two great tears ran down her face.
"Think nothing, save that I desire to live and die for you," he cried. "Audrey, when I parted from your grandfather, he gave me leave to come again, and endeavour to win your heart. But when I would have come, I heard you were departed to New England. That letter is two years old—tell me not that my day of grace is past! And yet, if you bid me tear the letter, I will upon mine honour strive to guard you as a brother on this journey. But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and to be such a friend to you, I will serve as many years as Jacob served for a wife. May I carry this letter to your father? You will not bid me tear it?"
A rainbow smile flickered over Audrey's face. "'Tis no use to tear it," she said. "I have here its fellow;" and she pulled out her letter and held it to him.
He gazed at it, dumb with surprise. "You have its fellow!" he said at last. "You knew all! And while I was tormenting myself to keep silence, I was but playing the part of a laggard wooer!"
"I only found the letter at Hunstanton the other night," she said.