esence of our own great hope or
scarcely comprehended fear. Such a moment was that which saw Paula
re-enter Jacqueline's presence with Mrs. Hamlin at her side.

Leaving the latter near the door, she went towards the bed. Why did she
recoil and glance back at Mrs. Hamlin with that startled and
apprehensive look? The face of Jacqueline was changed--changed as only
one presence could change it, though the eyes were clearer than when she
left her a few minutes before, and the lips were not without the shadow
of a smile.

"She is dying," whispered Paula, coming back to Mrs. Hamlin; "dying, and
you have waited so long!"

But the look that met hers from that aged face, was not one of grief;
and startled, she knew not why, Paula drew aside, while Mrs. Hamlin
crossed the room and quietly knelt down by her darling's side.

"Margery!"

"Jacqueline!"

The two cries rang through the room, then all was quiet again.

"You have come back!" were the next words Paula heard. "How could I ever
have doubted that you would!"

"I have been driven back by awful suffering," was the answer; and
another silence fell. Suddenly Jacqueline's voice was heard. "Love slew
me, and now love has saved me!" exclaimed she. And there came no answer
to that cry, and Paula felt the shadow of a great awe settle down upon
her, and moving nearer to where the aged woman knelt by her darling's
bedside, she looked in her bended face and then in the one upturned on
the pillow, and knew that of all the hearts that but an instant before
had beat with earth's deepest emotion in that quiet room, one alone
throbbed on to thank God and take courage.

And the fire which had been kindled to welcome the prodigal back, burned
on; and from the hollow depths of the great room below, came the sound
of a clock as it struck the hour, seven!

XLVI.

THE MAN CUMMINS.

Oh day and night, but this is wondrous strange."--HENRY V.

"Shut up in measureless content."--OTHELLO.

The lights were yet shining in Mr. Stuyvesant's parlors, though the
guests were gone, who but a short time before had assembled there to
witness the marriage of Cicely's dear friend, Paula.

At one end of the room stood Mr. Sylvester and Bertram, the former
gazing with the eyes of a bridegroom, at the delicate white-clad figure
of Paula, just leaving the apartment with Cicely.

"I have but one cause for regret," said Mr. Sylvester as the door
closed. "I could have wished that yo