r, be tinged with
sorrow when she cannot present to me our dear child. May Heaven grant
that through your assistance, my kind friend, that dear one may still be
restored to us!"

"I have little doubt about it, my dear sir," answered Jack, who was not
apt to indulge in what he called the "sentimental mood."

"I am sure that if little Elizabeth Pearson turns out to be your
daughter, you will have reason to be thankful, even though she may not
be the polished young lady she would have been had she remained under
the charge of her mother."

Thus conversing they reached the door of Mr Gournay's mansion, and Jack
had almost to drag in his poor friend, who appeared totally overcome by
the agitation of the expected meeting. Mrs Gournay had kindly
stationed a servant at the door to open it as soon as they were seen
coming up the steps. She herself then came down, and taking Monsieur de
Mertens by the hand, led him forward to the room where she said his wife
was waiting to receive him.

The meeting need not be described, nor does it matter much whether the
affectionate husband and wife thought each other greatly changed. It
was not until they had been some time together that Madame de Mertens
ventured to speak of their long-lost daughter; and then she heard with
grateful joy that her husband entertained a hope of her recovery, with
the aid of John Deane. When her husband showed her the ring which Jack
had given him, and which she herself had fastened round her child's
neck, all doubt as to the fact of Elizabeth Pearson being their child,
vanished. Both she and her husband were eager at once to set out to the
farm in the fens; but good mistress Gournay would not hear of her
commencing so fatiguing a journey, nor was her husband indeed at all fit
to undertake it at that time. Jack offered to go alone, but of that
Monsieur de Mertens would not hear. It was finally settled that they
should start together after a day's rest.

The two horses which had brought them to Norwich not being well suited
for the continuance of the journey, Mr Gournay placed at their disposal
two of the strongest animals he could procure. He also prepared a
palfrey, and directed a groom to accompany it, that Elizabeth might be
able to return without delay to the arms of her mother. When the hour
arrived for their departure, Monsieur de Mertens declared himself fully
able to undertake the journey, and urged Jack to push on over the roads
as fast