Margaret was silent, but she smiled; and a great flush swept over her face as she smiled.

“Everything war right, after all,” said Jordan.  “Hed I not lost her, I mighter grown careless o’ her like other men do sometimes uv those they luv, but no matter, we has a understandin’.”

And again the happy woman smiled and blushed.

Then Grace explained how much her husband was needed in England; that she had determined to remain until Mr. Jordan could travel, and let her husband go; that Captain McGregor had sold the “Pallas,” and she thought she would remain with them, and asked Jordan if he thought they, with a nurse, could take care of him.

Before he could answer, Mrs. Hazleton interposed and said: 

“All this sickness and sorrow came through me.  Henceforth my life is to be devoted to where it can do most good.  We do not want any display.  Why can we not be married?  Then I will be his nurse, and he will need no other.  You can go with your husband, and we will come when Tom is stronger.  What say you, love?”

“Do not answer, Mr. Jordan,” said Grace.  “We have fixed it for you to be married where my husband and myself—­where Jack and Rose—­were married.  We will remain until you can travel.”

“I’d be mighty glad ter call yo’ ‘wife’ now, Maggie,” said Jordan; “but I don’t reckon it’s squar for a man ter take advantage of his nuss.”  Then turning to Mrs. Sedgwick, he continued:  “Tell Jim I’ll be ready ter leave ter-morrer evenin’.”

So next day they started by easy stages for London.  Sedgwick engaged a special car to be stopped off at any point he might desire.  They rested a day in Milan, another in Paris, and there Sedgwick arranged to have the bullion that might come from the ‘Wedge of Gold’ at all times at his immediate disposal.  They reached London in six days; Jordan had gained so much that he walked to the carriage from the Dover depot, and with Sedgwick’s and McGregor’s support, walked up the steps of Sedgwick’s house.

Rose had dinner waiting for them, and at dinner expressed the sentiments of all by saying:  “I believe this is just now the happiest house in all England.”

CHAPTER XXIX.

Springing A trap.

Sedgwick found waiting for him advices from the mine, all of which were favorable and the output for another month, less the expenses of mining and milling, which amounted in the aggregate to something over $90,000, had been forwarded to the Bank of France.

The Wedge of Gold Mining Company was reorganized.  Browning was made president; Sedgwick, treasurer; McGregor, secretary; and all three, with Jordan, directors.  A regular dividend of two shillings per share, and a special dividend of as much more was declared, aggregating in all L30,000.  This was given to the Times for publication, and attached to it was the following note: