And for a few minutes there was a terrible silence.
Then Alpine crept to her mother's side.
"Mamma, was it true?"
"Yes, it was true. There, you have my awful secret. Bury it deep in your heart, Alpine, for no one must ever know. Now we must call the servants to put the body out. We can not have anything so vulgar as a dead tramp lying in the house!"
She moved toward the door, but her steps were arrested by a stern voice:
"Stay!"
She turned with a start and shudder.
A man had emerged from behind the curtain. At first sight it seemed to be Uncle Ben Carew, the old man so cordially despised.
But with a rapid hand he flung off wig, whiskers, and spectacles, standing revealed in majestic beauty—Vincent Carew!
"My God!" she cried, and flew to embrace him.