ordan. "We all has weak
spots in our hearts; she's mine."

Grace put one hand on Jordan's hand, the other on Margaret's cheek, and
said:

"Say all the pretty things of her that you please, Mr. Jordan, and do not
mind her, for her heart has been starving for those same words from your
lips for a long time."

Margaret was silent, but she smiled; and a great flush swept over her
face as she smiled.

"Everything war right, after all," said Jordan. "Hed I not lost her, I
mighter grown careless o' her like other men do sometimes uv those they
luv, but no matter, we has a understandin'."

And again the happy woman smiled and blushed.

Then Grace explained how much her husband was needed in England; that she
had determined to remain until Mr. Jordan could travel, and let her
husband go; that Captain McGregor had sold the "Pallas," and she thought
she would remain with them, and asked Jordan if he thought they, with a
nurse, could take care of him.

Before he could answer, Mrs. Hazleton interposed and said:

"All this sickness and sorrow came through me. Henceforth my life is to
be devoted to where it can do most good. We do not want any display. Why
can we not be married? Then I will be his nurse, and he will need no
other. You can go with your husband, and we will come when Tom is
stronger. What say you, love?"

"Do not answer, Mr. Jordan," said Grace. "We have fixed it for you to be
married where my husband and myself--where Jack and Rose--were married.
We will remain until you can travel."

"I'd be mighty glad ter call yo' 'wife' now, Maggie," said Jordan; "but I
don't reckon it's squar for a man ter take advantage of his nuss." Then
turning to Mrs. Sedgwick, he continued: "Tell Jim I'll be ready ter leave
ter-morrer evenin'."

So next day they started by easy stages for London. Sedgwick engaged a
special car to be stopped off at any point he might desire. They rested a
day in Milan, another in Paris, and there Sedgwick arranged to have the
bullion that might come from the 'Wedge of Gold' at all times at his
immediate disposal. They reached London in six days; Jordan had gained so
much that he walked to the carriage from the Dover depot, and with
Sedgwick's and McGregor's support, walked up the steps of Sedgwick's
house.

Rose had dinner waiting for them, and at dinner expressed the sentiments
of all by saying: "I believe this is just now the happiest house in all
England."

CHAPTER XXIX.

SPRINGING