She took the oath required, saying it after Oswald.

“Now,” said he, “go and fetch the tokens you have mentioned.”

When she was gone, Edmund’s passions, long suppressed, broke out in tears and exclamations; he kneeled down, and, with his hands clasped together, returned thanks to Heaven for the discovery.  Oswald begged him to be composed, lest Margery should perceive his agitation, and misconstrue the cause.  She soon returned with the necklace and ear-rings; They were pearls of great value; and the necklace had a locket, on which the cypher of Lovel was engraved.

“This,” said Oswald, “is indeed a proof of consequence.  Keep it, sir, for it belongs to you.”

“Must he take it away?” said she.

“Certainly,” returned Oswald; “we can do nothing without it; but if Andrew should ask for it, you must put him off for the present, and hereafter he will find his account in it.”

Margery consented reluctantly to part with the jewels; and, after some further conversation, they took leave of her.

Edmund embraced her affectionately.  “I thank you with my whole heart,” said he, “for all your goodness to me!  Though I confess, I never felt much regard for your husband, yet for you I had always the tender affection of a son.  You will, I trust, give your evidence in my behalf when called upon; and I hope it will one day be in my power to reward your kindness; In that case, I will own you as my foster-mother, and you shall always be treated as such.”

Margery wept.  “The Lord grant it!” said she; “and I pray him to have you in his holy keeping.  Farewell, my dear child!”

Oswald desired them to separate for fear of intrusion; and they returned to the castle.  Margery stood at the door of her cottage, looking every way to see if the coast was clear.

“Now, Sir,” said Oswald, “I congratulate you as the son of Lord and Lady Lovel; the proofs are strong and indisputable.”

“To us they are so,” said Edmund; “but how shall we make them so to others? and what are we to think of the funeral of Lady Lovel?”

“As of a fiction,” said Oswald; “the work of the present lord, to secure his title and fortune.”

“And what means can we use to dispossess him?” said Edmund; “He is not a man for a poor youth like me to contend with.”

“Doubt not,” said Oswald, “but Heaven, who has evidently conducted you by the hand thus far, will complete its own work; for my part, I can only wonder and adore!”

“Give me your advice then,” said Edmund; “for Heaven assists us by natural means.”

“It seems to me,” said Oswald, “that your first step must be to make a friend of some great man, of consequence enough to espouse your cause, and to get this affair examined into by authority.”

Edmund started, and crossed himself; he suddenly exclaimed, “"A friend!  Yes; I have a friend! a powerful one too; one sent by Heaven to be my protector, but whom I have too long neglected.”