Yes, it was Walter Wilson, of course. And the recognition was mutual. It needed only to turn his eyes upon the half-frightened woman—indeed, it needed only to hear that one word, uttered by her voice, to tell the returned emigrant who it was that stood beside him.
"Sarah, dear Cousin Sarah, I did not think of this. It is very kind of you to come here to welcome me back; but I did not think of it; I couldn't have expected it."
And then, with tears in both pairs of eyes, there was a cousinly embrace.
"It was John that did it, Cousin Walter; he would have me come. He is so good; and I love him; and so will you, Cousin Walter, when you know him."
All this amid tears and sobs and hand-pressings; and then, because it was safer, perhaps, to prevent an entire breakdown by talking without exactly knowing what she said, Sarah went on:
"And you are to come to live with us, Walter, and that's John's doings; and Helen, your dear, beautiful Helen—oh, I shall love her, and—"
There is no need to write down more. The talking was, at that time, almost all done by Sarah, for Walter was struggling with too many conflicting emotions, besides being too weak and ill, to say much. Presently he turned to Tincroft, and led him to the side of the ship, leaning on his arm, while Sarah made friends with the wondering Helen.
"Mr. Tincroft," said Walter, hoarsely and feebly, "you remember when and where we saw one another before, and how we parted?"
"It is so long ago," replied John, cheerily, "that it is never worth while to try to tax the memory. All, or the best, we have to do now, is to get you down to Tincroft House, and try to make you well soon; and then will be time enough to talk about what is past and gone."
"I shall never be well again, Mr. Tincroft," rejoined the other. "It is not for long that I shall—however, I will accept your invitation and go back with you for a little while. But I must remind you of what passed when we parted. 'You will some day be sorry,' you said, Mr. Tincroft. I am sorry. I cruelly misunderstood and misinterpreted you. Forgive me!"