“My darling!” cried poor Mrs. Hyde, in agony, “O, is she hurt, sir?”
“No, ma’am,” said Allan, “she is not hurt, at all!”
“Alice!” said Mr. Hyde to his wife.
He had but just landed from the American steamer, and was on his way to the hotel, not knowing of the arrival of “The Hague,” when he first saw Nettie and Allan. He was overjoyed to find his family thus unexpectedly.
“O, Eric, Eric! I am so glad!” she exclaimed, in relief; “but Nettie!”
“My little rash, excitable Nettie is safe and sound in papa’s arms,” he said. But the tremor in his voice showed how nearly Nettie had escaped severe injury. “Eric, my boy,” he added, “have you no word for papa?”
Eric, white and faint, could not speak a word, but clasped his father’s hand convulsively.
“And where is my daughter’s brave protector and deliverer?” Mr. Hyde asked, looking around for Allan.
The boy, who had bashfully retreated behind Mrs. Hyde, was brought forward and introduced as “our neighbor the blind boy, whose sight is now restored.”
“He is travelling home with us,” Mrs. Hyde added, when her husband had warmly thanked him.