Old Jacob showed Dr. Barbar to the best vacant bedroom, and young Jacob led Dick Hammond to the second best.
It is to be hoped that the two old gentlemen slept well.
Dick did not close his eyes.
The revulsion from despair to hope, to certainty of happiness, was almost too much for him. He lay rolling and tossing from side to side all night; telling himself over and over again that it was no dream; that Anna was free; and that he might at last be made happy with her hand; and wondering how long it would be before he could coax Anna to name the happy day, and his uncle to give them his blessing. He heard the old hall clock strike every hour, and thought the night would never come to an end.
At four o’clock on that winter morning, it was still very dark, when he heard rousing raps at his door.
“Well! who’s there?” he cried.
“It’s me, Master Dick,” answered the voice of Marcy.
“Well! what do you want?”
“Please sir, Miss Anna——”
Dick was out of bed in an instant, drawing on his pantaloons.