Doctor Hodges was in excellent spirits, and drank a bottle of old sack with great relish.

Overcome by the sight of his wife and children, the grocer abandoned himself to his feelings.
As to his wife, she could scarcely contain herself, but wept and laughed by turns--now embracing her husband, now her son, between whom she had placed herself.

Nor did she forget Doctor Hodges; and such was the exuberance of her satisfaction, that when the repast was ended, she arose, and, flinging her arms about his neck, termed him the preserver of her son.
"If any one is entitled to that appellation it is his father," replied Hodges, "and I may say, that in all my experience I have never witnessed such generous self-devotion as Mr.Bloundel has exhibited towards his son.

You must now be satisfied, madam, that no person can so well judge what is proper for the safety of his family as your husband." "I never doubted it, sir," replied Mrs.Bloundel.
"I must apprise you, then, that he has conceived a plan by which he trusts to secure you and his children and household from any future attack," returned Hodges.
"I care not what it is, so it does not separate me from him," replied Mrs.Bloundel.
"It does not," replied the grocer.

"It will knit us more closely together than we have yet been.