"I seek no reward from your generosity," returned the solitary, escaping from the grasp which detained him; "the consciousness of having done right is sufficient recompense."
Thus speaking, he turned away. Major Howard returned to the parlors. The guests were departing, and the several members of the family had disappeared.
He hurried to the apartment occupied by his sister, and there beheld her and Edith lying side by side, apparently in tranquil sleep, with Florence and Sylva, Edith's maid, watching at the bed-side.
Hannah Doliver was nowhere to be seen.
Florence advanced to meet her father, and, twining her arm affectionately round his neck, turned a tender glance on the pale faces of the sleepers, and said:
"O, father! father! let us kneel by this low couch and thank God for this merciful deliverance!"
CHAPTER XLV.
—————————"All this is well;
For this will pass away, and be succeeded
By an auspicious hope, which shall look up