That picture no mortal mind can realize; but the effort will take you so far as this:  you may imagine what Walter Clifford felt when, almost at the climax of despair, he received from that living tomb the good and beautiful creature who was the light of his eyes and the darling of his heart.

How he gloated on her!  How he murmured words of comfort and joy over her as the cage carried her and Hope and him up again into the blessed sunshine!  And there, what a burst of exultation and honest rapture received them!

Everybody was there.  The news of Hope’s signal had been wired to the surface.  An old original telegraph had been set up by Colonel Clifford, and its arms set flying to tell him.  That old campaigner was there, with his spring break and mattresses, and an able physician.  Bartley was there, pale and old, and trembling, and crying.  He fell on his knees before Hope and Grace.  She drew back from him with repulsion; but he cried out, “No matter! no matter!  They are saved! they are saved!”

Walter carried her to his father, and left Bartley kneeling.  Then he dashed back for Hope, who did not move, and found him on his knees insensible.  A piece of coal, driven by one of the men’s picks, had struck him on the temple.  The gallant fellow had tried to hide his hurt with his handkerchief, but the handkerchief was soaked with blood, and the man, exhausted by hunger, violent emotions, and this last blow, felt neither his trouble nor his joy.  He was lifted with tender pity into the break, and the blood stanched, and stimulants applied by the doctor.  But Grace would have his head on her bosom, and her hand in Walter’s.  Fortunately, the doctor was no other than that physician who had attended Colonel Clifford in his dangerous attack of internal gout.  We say fortunately, for patients who have endured extremities of hunger have to be treated with very great skill and caution.  Gentle stimulants and mucilages must precede solid food, and but a little of anything be taken at a time.  Doctor Garner began his treatment in the very break.  The first spoonful of egg and brandy told upon Grace Hope.  Her deportment had been strange.  She had seemed confused at times, and now and then she would cast a look of infinite tenderness upon Walter, and then again she would knit her brow and seem utterly puzzled.

But now she gave Walter a look that brought him nearer to her, and she said, with a heavenly smile, “You love me best; better than the other.”  Then she began to cry over her father.

“Better than the other,” said Walter, aloud.  “What other?”

“Be quiet,” said the doctor.  “Do you really think her stomach can be empty for six days, and her head be none the worse?  Come, my dear, another spoonful.  Good girl!  Now et me look at you, Mr. Walter.”

“Why, what is the matter with him?” said the Colonel.  “I never saw him look better in all my life.”

“Indeed!  Red spots on his cheek-bones, ditto on his temples, and his eyes glaring.”