could tell nothing about it themselves. Mr. and Mrs. Low
and Lucilla could not understand why everyone should be so surprised
to see them; why Bernard should faint, why nurse should scream, and why
Mr. Evans should look so white.

"They had suffered much in a terrible storm, and been driven far out of
their course, and been obliged to lie for months in some far-off
harbour for repairs, and had had a long and weary voyage. But they had
written letters, and supposed all this was known at home. The letters,
however, having been sent from a very out-of-the-way place, had never
arrived, but this they could not know.

"They were not surprised at anything, when they found that all their
friends and neighbours had thought them dead; and when Bernard, having
had his temples bathed with water, opened his eyes and recovered his
colour, and began to shed tears, they were no longer frightened about
him. He was then lifted into the carriage, and held in the arms of his
own father; nurse got upon a trunk behind, Mr. Evans mounted the pony,
and on they went, having now only down hill to go to the village.

"'Let us pass quietly, if possible, through the village,' said Mr. Low,
'that we may get our dear boy home as soon as possible;' but Mr. Low
could not have everything as he wished. The news was told at the very
first house, which was the turn-pike, by Mr. Evans before the carriage,
and by nurse behind it; and the whole street was up in a moment. There
was such joy, that men, women, and children set up shouts; and four
young men, who were enjoying the Whitsun holidays, flew to the church
and set the bells a-ringing before the carriage came in sight of the
rectory.

"'Surely,' said Miss Grizzy to the dairy-maid, 'those lads are not gone
off to the belfry, and that plague of a boy, young Low, not found yet!
I always said he was the most ill-conditioned child that ever lived;
and I know now he is only hiding out of malice to my poor Stephen.'

"Before she could finish her speech there was a sound of wheels and of
horses, and the barking of all the dogs about, and of doors opening;
and the very next minute in came nurse with the news into the dairy.

"Miss Grizzy was almost as ready to faint as Bernard had been--but not
from pleasure; all her unkindnesses to the child rose before her mind,
and it was with the greatest difficulty that she could put on even the
appearance of being glad, whilst her worthy brother's heart was lifted
up