and had taken it for
granted that his brother had been guilty of some _contre temps_, first
wiped the remaining lather from his half-shaved chin, and then ascended
to the housekeeper's room from whence the noise had proceeded. When he
opened the door, he found them in the position we have described, both
kneeling in the centre of the bed embracing and sobbing. They were so
wrapped in each other, that they did not perceive his entrance. Mr
John Forster stared with amazement for a few seconds, and thus growled
out:--

"Why, what are you two old fools about?"

"It's my husband, sir,"--"It's my wife, brother John," cried they, both
at once, as the tears coursed down their cheeks.

"Humph!" ejaculated the lawyer, and he quitted the room.

We must let the reader imagine the various explanations which took place
between Nicholas and his truly reformed wife, Newton and his uncle,
Amber, and every body in the household, while we narrate the events
which had brought about this singular _denouement_.

The reader may recollect that we left Mrs Forster in the lunatic
asylum, slowly recovering from an attack of the brain-fever, which had
been attended with a relapse. For many weeks she continued in a state
of great feebleness, and during that time, when, in the garden, in
company with other denizens of this melancholy abode (wishing to be
usefully employed), she greatly assisted the keepers in restraining
them, and, in a short time, established that superiority over them,
which is invariably the result of a pane intellect. This was soon
perceived by Doctor Beddington, who (aware of her destitute condition)
offered her a situation as nurse in the establishment, until the
inspecting magistrates should make their appearance, with the promise
that she might continue in it afterwards, if she thought proper. This
proposal was accepted by Mrs Forster, until she might resolve what
course to take, and she soon! became a most invaluable person in the
establishment, effecting more by lenient and kind treatment than the
keepers were able to do by their violence. So completely changed was
Mrs Forster in disposition, that so far from feeling any resentment
against those who had been the means of her confinement, she
acknowledged to herself that her own conduct had been the occasion of
her misfortune, and that those who had contributed to open her eyes to
her former insanity, were her best friends. She was humbled, and
unhappy; but s