"And I should deserve not to be forgiven," I said. "He has come home."
"I knew he was not dead."
"He is alive and well, and one of the first inquiries he made was for you."
"Now they shall see," she said exultantly, and her lips curled, "how much truth there was in those slanders of Garret Dawson's. Dear old souls! why were they afraid? Why would they not let me challenge him?"
"They were not so foolish," I said. "He held papers. If Uncle Luke had not come home we could not have disproved them."
"And there is an end to your marriage?" she asked breathlessly.
I held out my hand to her. It no longer carried Richard Dawson's ring.
"He set me free last night," I said, "before we knew who was coming home. You must clear him in your thoughts, godmother. He never knew how his father had obtained our consent to the marriage. He was furious when he knew and he set me free. I wish I knew what had become of him."
"Don't trouble about him, child. Presently you will find a lover worthy of you."
I said nothing, but my heart leaped. I was a proud woman to think that Anthony Cardew loved me, and still I was grieved for the others.