Sadly and thoughtfully, Valentine returned alone to his own house. He went up at once to his wife’s room.
As he opened the door, he started, and stopped on the threshold. Madonna was sitting on the couch by her adopted mother, with her face hidden on Mrs. Blyth’s bosom, and her arms clasped tight round Mrs. Blyth’s neck.
“Have you ventured to tell her all, Lavvie?” he asked.
Mrs. Blyth was not able to speak in answer—she looked at him with tearful eyes, and bowed her head.
Valentine lingered at the door for a moment-then softly closed it, and left them together.
CLOSING CHAPTER. A YEAR AND A HALF AFTERWARDS.
It is sunset after a fine day in August, and Mr. Blyth is enjoying the evening breeze in the invalid room.
Besides the painter and his wife, and Madonna, two visitors are present, who occupy both the spare beds in the house. One is Mrs. Thorpe, the other Mrs. Peckover; and they have been asked to become Valentine’s guests, to assist at the joyful ceremony of welcoming Zack to England on his return from the wilds of America. He has outstayed his year’s leave of absence by nearly six months; and his appearance at Mr. Blyth’s has become an event of daily, or more properly, of hourly expectation.