us
into another room, and let us see what proofs you have of what you say."

"That is quite just," said Dick. "I'd like you to kiss that little
beggar for me, Chatty; he knows what it is to stand by a man in trouble.
It is all right, Warrender. Of course it is the interest of all of us
that there should be no mistake. Send for Wilberforce, who will be
impartial; and if you could have Longstaffe too----"

Minnie came in, out of breath, at this stage of the affairs. "What does
he say, Eustace,--oh, what does he say? Are you sure it is true? What
has he got to say? And what does he mean about Mr. Longstaffe and Mr.
Wilberforce? Aren't you good enough for him? Can't you judge without
Wilberforce? Wilberforce," she cried, with professional contempt for
another clergyman, "is nothing so very wonderful; and he is _his_
friend and will be sure to be on his side. Why can't Eustace do?"

Mrs. Warrender, with her anxious face, had now come back again alone.
She went up to Dick, holding out both her hands. "God bless you!" she
said. "I believe you, dear Dick, every word you say. But everything must
be made as clear as daylight both for her sake and your own."

"I know it, dear mother," he replied. "I am quite ready. I should be the
first to ask for a full examination. Take care of my Chatty while I show
my papers. I want to take my wife away with me. I cannot be parted from
her again."

"Oh, Dick! oh, Dick!" The mother, like the daughter, could find no other
words to say.

Little Geoff found himself alone in Mrs. Warrender's room. She had taken
him there with much kindness and many tender words, and made a little
nest for him upon the sofa. "Lie down and try to go to sleep," she
said, stooping to kiss him, a caress which half pleased, half irritated,
Geoff. But he obeyed, for his head was still aching and dazed with the
suddenness and strangeness of all that had passed. To lie down and try
to sleep was not so hard for him as for most children of his age, and
for the first moment no movement of revolt was in him. He lay down in
the silence, not unwilling to rest his head on a soft pillow. But the
fire of excitement was in Geoff's veins, and a restlessness of energy
and activity which after a minute or two forebade all possibility of
rest. Something had happened to him which had never happened before.
He had not been quite clear what it was at first; whether it was the
wonder of Dick's return or of his own part in it,--the fac