Suneva. I thought thou would like it."

"Our Jan!" In those two words Margaret canceled every thing remembered
against her. Suneva's eyes filled, and she stretched out both her
hands to her step-daughter.

"Come in, Margaret! Come in, my brave, darling Jan! Come in, boys,
every one of you! There is cake, and wheat bread, and preserved fruit
enough for you all; and I shall find a shilling for every boy here,
who has kept Jan's triumph with him." And when Suneva had feasted the
children she brought a leather pouch, and counting out L2 14s., sent
them away, fiddling and singing, and shouting with delight.

But Margaret stayed; and the two women talked their bitterness over to
its very root. For Suneva said: "We will leave nothing unexplained,
and nothing that is doubtful. Tell me the worst thou hast thought, and
the worst thou hast heard, and what I can not excuse, that I will say,
'I am sorry for,' and thou wilt forgive it, I know thou wilt." And
after this admission, it was easy for Margaret also to say, "I am
sorry;" and when that part of the matter had been settled, she added,
"Now then, Suneva, I have great good news to tell thee."

But with the words Peter and the minister entered the house, and
Margaret went to Dr. Balloch and said, "I have done all thou bid me;
now then, thou tell my father and Suneva whatever thou told me. That
is what thou art come for, I know it is."

"Yes, it is so. I was in the store when thy little Jan and his
companions came there with the gold given them, and when the
sovereigns had been changed and every boy had got his shilling, I said
to thy father, 'Come home with me, for Margaret is at thy house, and
great joy has come to it to-day.'"

Then he told again the whole story, and read aloud Jan's letters; and
Peter and Suneva were so amazed and interested, that they begged the
minister to stay all day, and talk of the subject with them. And the
good man cheerfully consented, for it delighted him to see Margaret
and Suneva busy together, making the dinner and the tea, and sharing
pleasantly the household cares that women like to exercise for those
they love or respect. He looked at them, and then he looked at Peter,
and the two men understood each other, without a word.

By and by, little Jan, hungry and weary with excitement, came seeking
his mother, and his presence added the last element of joy to the
reunited family. The child's eager curiosity kept up until late the
interest in