Mr. Randall gazed at the two women in amazement. He looked first at
one and then at the other.

"What is the meaning of all this?" he demanded. "John my son, and Jess
your daughter! For God's sake, explain!"

With face as white as death, in a low voice, broken with emotion, Mrs.
Hampton revealed to the astounded man the entire story of the exchange
of the two babies in the hospital almost twenty years before. When she
had finished she stood silently before Randall, waiting for his reply.
What would his answer be? she asked herself. Never for an instant had
he taken his eyes from her face as she related the pathetic story of
motherly shame. Would he now scorn her and his wife, and spurn them
from him as unworthy of the name of women?

Presently Randall gave a deep sigh, and turned to his wife.

"Is this story true, Helen?" he asked.

"It is true, Henry, true in every word," the woman moaned, lifting her
tear-stained face to his. "But forgive us, for the love of heaven
forgive us! We have sinned, but we have suffered. Oh, it has been
terrible!"

So vehement was her emotion that she rose and stood once more before
her husband by Mrs. Hampton's side. An intense silence reigned for a
few seconds, and then Mr. Randall motioned them to sit down.

"You need not get so excited," he told them, as wearily they both sank
down in their chairs. "I am amazed at what I have just heard, but I
hope I am not brute enough to increase your agony. You both have
committed a great sin, but you have suffered enough, so I gather, to
atone for the past."

"And you forgive us?" his wife eagerly asked, looking at him with
tear-dimmed eyes.

"Certainly I forgive you. What else should I do? But why did you not
tell me about this before, Helen?"

"I was afraid, Henry. And you know you would have condemned me had I
told you even a month ago."

"I believe you are right, Helen," was the quiet reply. "But I have
changed a great deal since then. I have been at death's door, and see
things in another light. And besides, I would not have known then
where and who my son is. But I know now, so that makes all the
difference."

In Mrs. Randall's eyes appeared an expression such as her husband had
not seen there for many years. It thrilled him, and carried him back
to the first happy year of their wedded life. Rising to her feet, she
came swiftly toward him, knelt by his side, placed her arms about his
neck and gave him a l