‘Look here, Tom,’ said Louis, lifting the leaves to show the letters.  ’That is all I ever could feel on that matter, and so should you.  There, no more about it,—­you want to be on your way; and tell Mr. Frost that we shall be at Northwold in the afternoon.’

About half an hour after, Clara was delicately blowing the dust out of the wreath of forget-me-nots on the porcelain shepherdess’s hat, when a shriek resounded through the house, and, barely saving the Arcadian in her start, she rushed downstairs.  James, in his shirt-sleeves, was already on his way to the kitchen.  There Kitty was found, too much frightened, to run away, making lunges with the toasting-fork at a black-bearded figure, who held in his arms Charlotte Arnold, in a fit of the almost forgotten hysterics.  The workhouse girl shrieked for the police; Jane was at Master Oliver’s door, prepared for flight or defence; Isabel stood on the stairs, with her baby in her arms, and her little flock clinging to her skirts, when Clara darted back, laughing too much to speak distinctly, as she tried to explain who the ruffian really was.

’And Louis is coming, and Mary!  Oh!  Isabel, he has her at last!  Oh!  Jem!  Jem! did we ever want dear granny so much!  I always knew it would come right at last!  Jane, Jane, do you hear, Lord Fitzjocelyn is married!  Let me in; I must go and tell Uncle Oliver!’

James looked at Isabel, and read in her smile Clara’s final acquittal from all suspicions beneath the dignity of both.  Uncle Oliver would have damped her joy, had it been in his power.  He gave up his affairs as hopeless, as soon as he found that young Fitzjocelyn had only made them an excuse for getting married, and he was so excessively angry with her for being happy, that she found she must carry her joyous face out of his sight.

It was not easy to be a dignified steady governess that morning, and when the lessons were finished, she could have danced home all the way.  She had scarcely reached the Terrace gate, when the well-known sound of the wheels was heard, and in another moment she was between the two dear cousins; Fitzjocelyn’s eyes dancing with gladsomeness, and Mary’s broad tranquil brow and frank kindly smile, free from the shadow of a single cloud!  Clara’s heart leapt up with joy, joy full and unmixed, the guerdon of the spirit untouched by vanity or selfishness, without one taint that could have mortified into jealous, disappointed pain.  It was bliss to one of those whom she loved best, it was the winning of a brother and sister, and perhaps Clara’s life had never had a happier moment.

Lord Ormersfield could have thanked her for that joyous, innocent welcome.  He had paid her attentions for his son’s sake, of which he had become rather ashamed; and as Louis and Mary hastened on to meet James and Isabel, he detained her for a moment, to say some special words of kindness.  Clara, perhaps, had an intuitive perception of his meaning, and reference to her past heiress state, for she laughed gaily, and said, ’Yes, I never was more glad of anything!  He was so patient that I was sure he deserved it!  I always trusted to such a time as this, when he used to talk to me for want of dear grandmamma.’