I acted Boreas; and it is she who
has restored us to each other.'

'Highly as I esteemed Violet, I little thought to hear this! My father
wrote that he regretted Theodora's having been left to one so little
capable of controlling her.'

'Lord Martindale is a very good man, but he has no more discrimination
of character than my old cat!' cried Percy. 'I beg your pardon, John,
but the fact was patent. Mrs. Martindale is the only person who has ever
been a match for Theodora. She conquered her, made her proud to submit,
and then handed her over to the lawful authorities. If Lord Martindale
has an unrivalled daughter, he ought to know whom to thank for it.'

'I hope he appreciates Violet.'

'In a sort he does. He fully appreciates her in her primary vocation,
as who would not, who had watched her last winter, and who sees what she
has made her husband.'

'Then you are satisfied about Arthur?'

'Better than I ever thought to be.'

'And, Percy, what is this that he tells me of your having rescued him at
your own expense?'

'Has he told you all that?' exclaimed Percy.

'He wished me to know it in case of his death.'

'I could not help it, John,' said Percy, in apology. 'If you had seen
her and her babies, and had to leave him in that condition on her hands,
you would have seen there was nothing for it but to throw a sop to the
hounds, so that at least they might leave him to die in peace.'

'It saved him! But why did you object to my father's hearing of it?'

'Because I knew he would dislike any sense of obligation, and that he
could not conveniently pay it off. Besides, we had to keep Arthur's
mouth shut out of consideration for the blood-vessel, so I told him to
let it rest till you should come. I fancy we have all been watching
for you as a sort of "Deus ex Machina" to clear up the last act of the
drama, though how you are to do so, I cannot conceive.'

The next day was Sunday, almost the first truly homelike Sunday of
John's life. Not only was there the churchgoing among friends and
kindred after long separation, but the whole family walked thither
together, as John had never known them do before; and with his mother
on his arm, his little godson holding Lord Martindale's hand, Helen
skipping between her father and mother, Theodora gentle and subdued, it
seemed as if now, for the first time, they had become a household of the
same mind.

It was one of the most brilliant days of summer--a cloudless sky of