[CHAPTER XIII.]
RECONCILIATION AND HAPPINESS.
THE carriage was already at the door, and Miss Howard drove hastily to Mr. Lambert's residence. She was informed that he was stronger, had taken more nourishment, and was again asleep. The valet came from the chamber where the sick man had been carried and gave her the sealed envelope; and with this in her hand she started for Mrs. Douglass's boarding-house, scarcely daring to read the words, lest she should unfit herself for the exciting scenes she must expect. After a cursory glance at the page she thrust it back into the envelope, and endeavored to form some plan by which she might best convey to her invalid friend the wonderful discovery she had made.
Early as it was, Mrs. Cheriton had taken her boy for a walk. Mrs. Douglass sat reading by the window. She greeted Miss Howard with a smile and then, noticing her flushed face, asked,-
"Are you well, dear?"
"Can you bear good news, Mrs. Douglass?"
"Good news seldom hurts any one."
"Have you ever thought that your husband might be living near you?"
"I know where he lives; I learned it by accident while in the country and found it impossible to remain away."
"And that explains your sudden return and your watching so constantly from the windows?" Marion's tone was full of wonder.