Arthur, as he threw open the drawing-room door, observed that Mr. Denham
had raised himself on the couch, and was gazing eagerly in that
direction. Agnes instantly sprang forward into her uncle's outstretched
arms, the old man murmuring with a voice weak with emotion, "My darling
here,--you come back to your old uncle once more."
With instinctive delicacy Mr. Bernard softly closed the door, and
retired, feeling that the scene had become too sacred for a stranger's
eye.
CHAPTER XIII.
Lights streamed gayly from every window of Mr. Hilton's spacious and
hospitable mansion, where a party of friends had assembled to celebrate
the return of the long-lost Agnes. This gentleman, whose letter had
confirmed to Arthur, while yet in France, the painful intelligence of
the destruction of the steamer in which Agnes had embarked, and the
subsequent supposed shipwreck of its passengers, had been among the
first to hasten to welcome her home, for a warm admirer of woman in
general, Miss Wiltshire had secured his especial regard, and having no
daughters of his own, he used often to remark to his excellent wife,
that there was but one thing he envied Mr.
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