Having passed the night in the peaceful repose of a quiet conscience he arose unusually early and went out in the orchard to inhale the fragrance of the fresh morning air, laden with the odors of flower and fruit, the sweet scented clover and the newly mown hay, all now baptised in one common faith by unseen agencies that needed not the laying on of earthly hands. Filled with the spirit of adoration the whole earth looked to him as if kneeling before its Maker in grateful praise for the blessings of the night in which he was ready to join.
Presently the sound of a footstep behind him disturbed his devotions, and looking round he saw his mother approaching with such a benignant smile in her eyes, that ere he was aware, his arms encircled her neck.
"Mother!"
"Walter!"
Not another word was said. Soul met soul, and language was needless. They walked into the house in silence where they found the rest of the family already astir. Unknown to themselves Ernest was an observer of the scene as he looked from his chamber window and called Rosalind, but she was not quick enough. At breakfast an indescribable joy pervaded the whole family as if a great shadow had been suddenly lifted, which was no less a trouble that it was only a shadow. All felt the change but none knew how it happened. Even Lilly seemed to comprehend it who slid down from her chair, and going to Walter, put her hand on his knee, and looked up into his face, as much as to say, "Can't you tell me what makes you so happy?"
