The commodore growled out certain inarticulate anathemas, which he intended should be taken as congratulations, since the people seemed to expect it of him.

And Mary L’Oiseau pulled down her mouth, cast up her eyes and crossed herself when she saw the consecrated hand of Sister Theresa clasped in that of Cloudy!

But Thurston’s high spirit could not brook this scene an instant longer.  And love as well as pride required its speedy close.  Marian was resting on his arm—­he felt the clasp of her dear hand—­he saw her living face—­the angel brow—­the clear eyes—­the rich auburn tresses, rippling around the blooming cheek—­he heard her dulcet tones—­yet—­it seemed too like a dream!—­he needed to realize this happiness.

“Friends,” he said, “I thank you for the interest you show in us.  For those whose faith in me remained unshaken in my darkest hour, I find no words good enough to express what I shall ever feel.  But you must all know how exhausting this day has been, and how needful repose is”—­his eyes here fell fondly and proudly upon Marian—­“to this lady on my arm.  After to-morrow we shall be happy to see any of our friends at Dell-Delight.”  And bowing slightly from right to left, he led his Marian through the opening crowd.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

REUNION.

Who shall follow them, or intrude on the sacredness of their reconciliation, or relate with what broken tones, and frequent stops and tears and smiles, and clinging embraces, their mutual explanations were made?

At last Marian, raising her head from his shoulder, said: 

“But I come to you a bankrupt, dear Thurston!  I have inherited and expended a large fortune since we parted—­and now I am more than penniless, for I stand responsible for large sums of money owed by my ‘Orphans Home’ and ’Emigrants Help’—­money that I had intended to raise by subscription.”

“Now, I thank God abundantly for the wealth that He has given me.  Your fortune, dearest Marian, has been nobly appropriated—­and for the rest, it is my blessed privilege to assume all your responsibilities—­and I rejoice that they are great! for, sweetest wife, and fairest lady, I feel that I never can sufficiently prove how much I love and reverence you—­how much I would and ought to sacrifice for you!”

“And even now, dear Thurston, I came hither, bound on a mission to the Western prairies, to find a suitable piece of land for a colony of emigrants.”

“I know it, fairest and dearest lady, I know it all.  I will lift that burden from your shoulders, too, and all liabilities of yours do I assume—­oh! my dear Marian! with how much joy! and I will labor with and for you, until all your responsibilities of every sort are discharged, and my liege lady is free to live her own life!”

This scene took place in the private parlor of the hotel, while Paul Douglass was gone to Colonel Thornton’s lodgings, to carry the glad tidings to Miriam, and also to procure a carriage for the conveyance of the whole party to Dell-Delight.