A hundred things that had puzzled him in the last two days grew of a sudden clear, and filled him with a joy unspeakable.
He dared scarce believe that he was awake, and Cynthia by him--that he had indeed heard aright what she had said.

How blind he had been, how nescient of himself! Then, as his thoughts travelled on to the source of the misapprehension he remembered his son, and the memory was like an icy hand upon his temples that chilled him through and through.

Lying there with eyes still closed he groaned.

Happiness was within his grasp at last.

Love might be his again did he but ask it, and the love of as pure and sweet a creature as ever God sent to chasten a man's life.