share their perils upon their journey; but I could not
have aided them, and God has marked out my place here. No, Harry,
God has protected me so far, and will aid me still. Now I am ready
for whatever may betide."

"One moment before you enter, Marie. You are prepared, I know,
to see a great change in Victor, but nevertheless you cannot but
be shocked at first. Do not go up to him or attract his attention
till you have overcome this and are able to speak to him in your
natural voice. I think a great deal depends upon the first impression
you make on his brain. Your voice has a good deal changed in the
last six months; it would be strange if it had not; but I want you
to try and speak to him in the bright cheerful tone he was accustomed
to hear."

Marie nodded. "One moment," she said, as she brushed aside the tears
which filled her eyes, drew herself up with a little gesture that
reminded Harry of old times, and then with a swift step passed
through the door into Victor's room. Whatever she felt at the sight
of the wasted figure lying listlessly with half-closed eyes on the
couch, it only showed itself by a swift expression of pain which
passed for a moment across her face and then was gone.

"Victor," she said in her clear ringing voice, "Victor, my well
beloved, I am come to you." The effect upon Victor was instantaneous.
He opened his eyes with a start, half rose from his couch and held
out his arms towards her.

"Marie," he said in a faint voice, "you have come at last. I have
wanted you so much."

Then, as Marie advanced to him, and kneeling by his side, clasped
him in her arms, Elise and Harry stole quietly from the room. It
was nearly an hour before Marie came out. There was a soft glow of
happiness on her face, though her cheeks were pale.

"Not yet!" she said, as she swept past them into her own room.

In a few minutes she reappeared.

"Pardon me," she said, holding out her hands to Harry and Elise,
"but I had to thank the good God first. Victor is quite sensible
now, but oh, so weak! He remembers nothing of the past, but seems
to think he is still in Burgundy, and has somehow had an illness.
Then he spoke of the duke and my dear father and mother as being
still alive, and that he hoped they would let me come to him
now. I told him that all should be as he wished as soon as he got
stronger, but that he must not think of anything now, and that
I would nurse him, and all would be well. He seemed puzzl