Just how he answered, or how Julia alighted, he could never tell.  This was the final touch and test, and if the whole did not vanish, he should certainly accept it all as real.

“What a sweet and wonderful little romance it all is,” said the happy mother; “and to happen to us here, in this new, wild, humdrum region!  Who shall say that God does not order, and that heroism does not exist; and that faithful love is not still rewarded.”

“Mrs. Markham”—­

“Call me mother!” said that lady; “I have long loved you, and thought of you as my son.”

“And your husband?” said Bart.

“Is here to answer for himself,” said the Judge, entering.  He came forward and greeted Bart warmly.

“Judge Markham,” said Bart, holding each parent by a hand; “Julia and I met by accident this morning, at the place where we were sheltered a year ago.  We found that no explanation was needed, and we there asked God to bless our love and marriage.  Of course we may have taken too much for granted.”

“No, no!” said the Judge, warmly, placing Julia’s hand within his.  “We will now, and always, and ever, ask God to bless your love, and crown it with a true and sacred marriage.  Such as ours has been, my love, won’t we?”

“Certainly,” answered Mrs. Markham.  “And we take him to our home and hearts as our true son.”

Then all knelt, and the father’s voice in reverent prayer and thanksgiving, was for a moment lifted to the Great Father.

Later, they were quiet and happy, around a tea, or rather a supper table.  But Bart toyed with his fork, and sparkled with happy, brilliant sallies.  Julia watched him with real concern.

“Arthur,” she said, “I am a woman; and a woman likes to see even her lover eat.  It is the mother part, isn’t it, mamma?” blushing and laughing, “that likes to see children feed.  Now he has not eaten a mouthful to-day; and I shall be anxious.”

“For that matter he dined on a gill of milk, and one ounce of honey yesterday,” said the Judge, “Don’t you ever eat?”

“And I shall shock him;” said Julia, “he will soon find that I am only common vulgar flesh and blood, to be fed and nourished.”

“Don’t fear,” said Bart; “I like a strong, healthy, deep chested woman, who can live and endure.  I am not the least bit of a Byron.  And now let me get used to this new heaven, into which you have just taken me; let my heart get steady, if it will, in its great happiness.  Let me have some good runs in the woods, some good rows on the ponds, some hard gallops.  Let me get tired, and I’ll astonish you with a famine.”

“I shall be glad to see it,” said Julia.

There came pleasant talk of trifles, that only lay about on the surface, and near the great joy of their new happiness; and little pleasantries of the Judge.  He asked Julia, “how she liked the moustache, suggesting that it might be in the way.