to chuse a husband from all the world, he only
should be my choice, who I can say, with joy, is my father's also."

Edmund bowed low, he advanced towards her; the Baron took his daughter's
hand, and presented it to him; he kneeled upon one knee, he took her
hand, kissed it, and pressed it to his bosom. The Baron embraced and
blessed them; he presented them to Sir Philip Harclay--"Receive and
acknowledge your children!" said he.

"I do receive them as the gift of Heaven!" said the noble knight; "they
are as much mine as if I had begotten them: all that I have is theirs,
and shall descend to their children for ever." A fresh scene of
congratulation ensued; and the hearts of all the auditors were too much
engaged to be able soon to return to the ease and tranquillity of common
life.

After they had refreshed themselves, and recovered from the emotions
they had sustained on this interesting occasion, Edmund thus addressed
the Baron:

"On the brink of happiness I must claim your attention to a melancholy
subject. The bones of both my parents lie unburied in this house;
permit me, my honoured lord, to perform my last duties to them, and the
remainder of my life shall be devoted to you and yours."

"Certainly," said the Baron; "why have you not interred them?"

"My lord, I waited for your arrival, that you might be certified of the
reality, and that no doubts might remain."

"I have no doubts," said the Baron; "Alas! both the crime and punishment
of the offender leave no room for them!" He sighed. "Let us now put an
end to this affair; and, if possible, forget it for ever."

"If it will not be too painful to you, my lord, I would intreat you,
with these gentlemen our friends, to follow me into the east apartment,
the scene of my parents' woes, and yet the dawning of my better hopes."

They rose to attend him; he committed the Lady Emma to the care of her
youngest brother, observing that the scene was too solemn for a lady to
be present at it. They proceeded to the apartment; he showed the Baron
the fatal closet, and the place where the bones were found, also the
trunk that contained them; he recapitulated all that passed before their
arrival; he shewed them the coffin where the bones of the unfortunate
pair were deposited: he then desired the Baron to give orders for their
interment.

"No," replied he, "it belongs to you to order, and every one here is
ready to perform it."

Edmund then desired father Oswald to gi