John (turns). O Harry, Harry! my dear, dear boy! (Rushing into his arms.)
Stub. Hi, golly! dat's de ticket, dat's de ticket!
Harry. Mother, have you no word for the truant?
Mrs. Maynard (embracing him). My heart is too full, Harry! (Harry, c.; Mrs. Maynard, r. c.; Jessie, r.; Mr. Maynard, l. c.; Charity, l.; Stub, extreme l.)
Harry. Mother, father, of the bitter past—
John. We'll not hear a word, Harry. We have you safe again: let the sorrows of the past be forgotten in the joy of the present. Mother, look at him! what a frame, what a face! Hang me, if I don't believe all this has been a joke!
Harry. Nay, father, in remembering the trials we have passed, we gain new hope for the future. I am a free man, with a home of my own; rich Western lands own me as master; but I owe all to the dear girl who loved me,—the brave, noble woman who befriended me. Come here, little wife: let my parents see that the child they adopted is now theirs by right. (Jessie goes to him.)
Jessie. Yes, father, we ran away and were married: will you forgive us?
John. Forgive you, puss? it was Harry's salvation! (Enter Tom, door in flat.)