very slight, compared with those of
multitudes of others; and yet it must sadden your heart to know that your
dear old home is in ruins."

"Yes, wife, it does; but I were an ungrateful wretch to murmur and repine,
had I lost everything but you and our four treasures in yonder room: but
you are all spared to me, and I am by no means penniless yet."

"Very far from it, my own noble husband," she answered, with a look of
proud, loving admiration; "for all I have is yours as much as mine."

"Thanks, dearest; I am not too proud to accept your assistance, and we
will build up the old home and make it lovelier than ever, for ourselves
and for our children; what a pleasant work it will be to make it as nearly
as possible an earthly paradise for them."

"Yes," she said, smiling brightly; "the cloud has a silver lining."

"As all our clouds have, dearest."

"Yes; for 'we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God!' But oh, Edward, what an awful end was Jackson's. I shudder to
think of it? and yet--oh, I fear it is not right--but I cannot help
feeling it a relief to know that he is dead. Even in Europe, I could not
divest myself of the fear that he might turn up unexpectedly, and attempt
the lives of my dear ones."

"It is a relief to me also, and not wrong, I think, to feel it so; for we
do not rejoice in his destruction, but would have saved him, if we could.
Has not the news of Walter comforted you in some measure?"

"Yes, oh yes; the dear, dear fellow! You have not seen this," she added,
taking the photograph from her pocket.

"No; it is a striking likeness, and you will value it highly."

"Indeed I shall. Ah, how strange it will be to go home and not find him
there."

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINTH.

"O war!--what, what art thou?
At once the proof and scourge of man's fallen state."
--HANNAH MORE.

Richard Allison had gone to Lansdale for his bride a fortnight ago; they
were now taking their bridal trip and expected to reach Elmgrove a day or
two before the wedding of May and Harry Duncan. The latter would bring
Aunt Wealthy with him, and leave her for a short visit among her friends.

Sophie's mother and sister-in-law, Mrs. Carrington, and Lucy Ross, came
earlier, arriving only two days after our party from Europe.

There was great pleasure, yet mingled with profound sadness, in the
meeting of these old and dear friends. Lucy and her moth