There was an old man and woman with some young people of his own age.

Then he noticed among them a beautiful, fairy-like little creature, some four years younger than himself, who, at sight of the white-haired man, rushed toward him and, placing her arms about his neck, cried: "Father, father, father!" "Ester, my child," the swordsman returned, "have you been happy ?" "Happy as one could be with father away." "Now that I have returned, you need sorrow no more." All the while Robert Stevens was standing on the threshold waiting an invitation to enter.

The aged patriarch at last seized the arm of General Goffe and asked: "Whom have we here ?" The general, in the joy of meeting his daughter from whom he had been separated, had forgotten Robert.
"This is Robert Stevens, your relative from Virginia." "Robert, I knew your father; I heard he was lost at sea." "He was," Robert answered sadly.
"And your mother ?" "Has married Hugh Price, a cavalier." Robert told a part of his story, ending with the announcement that he was forced to fly from home to escape prosecution for treason.

This he told with much reluctance, for it was a poor recommendation that he was an escaped prisoner.
When all was known, Robert found an abundance of sympathy, and was told that he might make his home with his relatives, until he could be provided for.
Then followed long weeks, months and years of the most delightful period of his life.

His relatives were kind.