["That will do,” said Jack.  “Now go on with the book.”]

But while the company were engaged in detached groups, waiting the signal for proceeding into the great hall, where the ceremony was to be performed by special license, Lord Berville sent a message to the Countess, that he wished to say a few words to Lady Alice, in the library, before the commencement of the ceremony that was to make him the happiest of men.  He waited impatiently, and in a few minutes the bride appeared, radiant in joy and beauty.  She started, when she saw seated beside him a beautiful young woman, plainly, but richly drest.  They rose when Lady Alice appeared.

“Dearest Alice,” said Berville, “I have told you that there was a person in this neighbourhood to whom my gratitude was unbounded, and who, I hope, has now an equal claim on yours, for she is the saviour of my life.”

     “Indeed?”

“Let it be a secret between us three,” continued Berville; “but you agree with me, my friend,” he said, turning to the stranger, “that there should be no reserve between a man and his wife.  I told you, Alice, when we were at Rome, the story of an adventure I had on Barnley Wold, and of the heroic conduct of a young girl.  In this lady you see her.  She is now the wife of the vicar of my parish, and I trust will be a friend of both of us.”

     Lady Alice threw her arms round Janet’s neck, and said, “I know
     it all; we shall be friends; and nothing makes one so happy as
     to know we shall be so near each other.”

     “Ah, madam, you know not how deeply I am indebted to his
     lordship’s mother, for all her kindness, or how overpaid all my
     services are by the happiness of this moment.”

     “And now, having made you thus acquainted, I must ask you, my
     kind friend, to hurry Lady Alice to the great hall, where your
     husband, I trust, is waiting to tie the indissoluble band.”

A joyous shout from the tenants assembled in the outer court, who became impatient for the appearance of the happy pair, gave evidence of the near approach of the happy moment, and Janet and Lady Alice hurried from the room.  Lord Berville rang the bell.  His servant appeared, being no other than our old acquaintance George, now softened by a year’s sojourn in a foreign land.

“George,” said Lord Berville, “no one in the earth knows your position; from this hour, therefore, you cease to be my servant, and are the steward of my Lincolnshire estate.  Your uncle’s fate is unknown?”

     “His fate is known, my lord, that he died by his own hand in
     the hut on Barnley Wold; but his crimes are undiscovered.”