The faces about him grew brighter at his words.
“I wonder I had not thought of that before,” exclaimed Ronald.
“You are kind, very kind, doctor,” said Mrs. Heath. “‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’”
“Ah, my dear madam, advice is cheap,” he said; “when not professional,” he added, laughingly. “I shall speak to Charlton, and we will see what can be done.” Then, as he rose to go, “Ah, I had nearly forgotten! Miss Miriam, Serena bade me give you this,” drawing from his pocket a note written on tinted paper, and directed in a delicate female hand. “You will not find it a doleful missive,” he went on, a joyous look coming into his eyes; “the dark and threatening cloud that overshadowed us has passed away, and we are again rejoicing in the sunlight; for which I trust we are sincerely grateful to the Giver of all good.”
“Ah, I am very, very glad for you both!” Miriam exclaimed, and the others united their congratulations with hers.
“We have all felt for you and your sweet wife, doctor,” said the dear old lady, “and are rejoiced that she is not to be torn from you. Golding has relinquished his claim and consented to leave you undisturbed?”
“Yes; after standing out against the measure for a time that seemed very long to us, he finally agreed to unite with Serena in asking for a divorce; and under the circumstances the judge was able to grant it without bringing the matter into court. Then Serena and I were quietly remarried, and Golding has gone, leaving his son with us; for which I am most thankful, for I think it would have killed Serena to be deprived of either of her children.”
“How happened it that you were so strangely deceived in regard to Mr. Golding’s death?” asked Mrs. Heath.
“I believe it was a cousin of the same name whose death was reported to Serena as that of her husband. I presume there was no intentional deceit; but it cannot be denied that Golding was greatly to blame in absenting himself so long from home, and never during all that time attempting any communication with his wife. Besides, even before that he had given her Bible grounds for divorce. So that my conscience is entirely clear in asserting my claim to be superior to his,” he concluded, his countenance beaming with satisfaction.
“I think it well may be, and that Golding’s conduct has been very cruel from first to last,” remarked Mrs. Heath.