“Yes,” said Mr. Percy, “our fortune is restored; and doubly happy we are, in having regained it, in a great measure, by the presence of mind and ability of my son.”
His mother and sister embraced Alfred with tears of delight. For some moments a spectator might have imagined that he beheld a family in deep affliction. But soon through these tears appeared on the countenance of each individual the radiance of joy, smiles of affection, tenderness, gratitude, and every delightful benignant feeling of the human heart.
“Has any body sent to Mrs. Hungerford and to Lady Jane Granville?” said Mr. Percy.
“Yes, yes, messengers were sent off the moment the verdict was given,” said Erasmus: “I took care of that.”
“It is a pity,” said Rosamond, “that Caroline is not here at this moment, and Godfrey.”
“It is best as it is,” said Mrs. Percy: “we have that pleasure still in store.”
“And now, my beloved children,” said Mr. Percy, “after having returned thanks to Providence, let me here, in the midst of all of you to whom I owe so large a share of my happiness, sit down quietly for a few minutes to enjoy ‘the sober certainty of waking bliss.’”