I should not see my Johnny,
but I can call his image up as clear as if I had my eyes. Now stand up,
John, and I will let the gentleman see how well I remember you. He is as
tall, sir, as the second shelf, as straight as an arrow, his face brown,
and his eyes bright and clear. His hair is well-nigh black, and his
moustache the same--I shouldn't wonder if he had whiskers as well by
this time. Now, sir, don't you think I can do without my sight?" The
clergyman listened to her description, and looking at the battered,
white-haired man before him, he hardly knew whether to laugh or to cry.

But it all proved to be a laughing matter in the end, for, whether it
was that her illness had taken some natural turn, or that John's return
had startled it away, it is certain that from that day Mary steadily
improved until she was as well as ever. "No special license for me,"
John had said sturdily. "It looks as if we were ashamed of what we are
doing, as though we hadn't the best right to be married of any two folk
in the parish." So the banns were put up accordingly, and three times
it was announced that John Huxford, bachelor, was going to be united
to Mary Howden, spinster, after which, no one objecting, they were duly
married accordingly. "We may not have very long in this world," said old
John, "but at least we shall start fair and square in the next."

John's share in the Quebec business was sold out, and gave rise to a
very interesting legal question as to whether, knowing that his name
was Huxford, he could still sign that of Hardy, as was necessary for
the completion of the business. It was decided, however, that on his
producing two trustworthy witnesses to his identity all would be right,
so the property was duly realised and produced a very handsome fortune.
Part of this John devoted to building a pretty villa just outside
Brisport, and the heart of the proprietor of Beach Terrace leaped within
him when he learned that the cottage was at last to be abandoned, and
that it would no longer break the symmetry and impair the effect of his
row of aristocratic mansions.

And there in their snug new home, sitting out on the lawn in the
summer-time, and on either side of the fire in the winter, that worthy
old couple continued for many years to live as innocently and as happily
as two children. Those who knew them well say that there was never a
shadow between them, and that the love which burned in their aged hearts
was as high