ating my statement by
unnecessary reference to Sir Percival's secret. This done, I reminded
my audience of the date on the inscription in the churchyard (the
25th), and confirmed its correctness by producing the certificate of
death. I then read them Sir Percival's letter of the 25th, announcing
his wife's intended journey from Hampshire to London on the 26th. I
next showed that she had taken that journey, by the personal testimony
of the driver of the fly, and I proved that she had performed it on the
appointed day, by the order-book at the livery stables. Marian then
added her own statement of the meeting between Laura and herself at the
mad-house, and of her sister's escape. After which I closed the
proceedings by informing the persons present of Sir Percival's death
and of my marriage.

Mr. Kyrle rose when I resumed my seat, and declared, as the legal
adviser of the family, that my case was proved by the plainest evidence
he had ever heard in his life. As he spoke those words, I put my arm
round Laura, and raised her so that she was plainly visible to every
one in the room. "Are you all of the same opinion?" I asked, advancing
towards them a few steps, and pointing to my wife.

The effect of the question was electrical. Far down at the lower end
of the room one of the oldest tenants on the estate started to his
feet, and led the rest with him in an instant. I see the man now, with
his honest brown face and his iron-grey hair, mounted on the
window-seat, waving his heavy riding-whip over his head, and leading
the cheers. "There she is, alive and hearty--God bless her! Gi' it
tongue, lads! Gi' it tongue!" The shout that answered him, reiterated
again and again, was the sweetest music I ever heard. The labourers in
the village and the boys from the school, assembled on the lawn, caught
up the cheering and echoed it back on us. The farmers' wives clustered
round Laura, and struggled which should be first to shake hands with
her, and to implore her, with the tears pouring over their own cheeks,
to bear up bravely and not to cry. She was so completely overwhelmed,
that I was obliged to take her from them, and carry her to the door.
There I gave her into Marian's care--Marian, who had never failed us
yet, whose courageous self-control did not fail us now. Left by myself
at the door, I invited all the persons present (after thanking them in
Laura's name and mine) to follow me to the churchyard, and see the
f