And while they were still busy welcoming her back, came a ring at the door, and a loud voice, asking if the owner of it might come in.
Who but Tom Troubridge! Who else was there to raise her four good feet off the ground, and kiss her on both cheeks, and call her his darling little sister! Who else was there who could have changed their tears into laughter so quick that their merriment was wafted up to the Vicar's room, and made him ring his bell, and tell them to send Tom up to him! And who but Tom could have lit the old man's face up with a smile, with the history of a new colt, that my lord's mare Thetis had dropped last week! That was her welcome home.

To the home she had dreaded coming to, expecting to be received with scorn and reproaches.

To the home she had meant to come to only as a penitent, to leave her child there and go forth into the world to die.

And here she found herself the honoured guest--treated as one who had been away on a journey, whom they had been waiting and praying for all the time, and who came back to them sooner than expected.

None hold the force of domestic affection so cheap as those who violate it most rudely.