raising the money for the purchase of Lord ----'s collection?"

"Yes;--am I forgiven?"

"Dearest Constance," said Godolphin, flinging his arms around her, "how
have I wronged you! During those very years, then, of our
estrangement--during those very years in which I thought you indifferent,
you were silently preparing this noble revenge on the injury I did you.
Why, why did I not know this before? Why did you not save us both from so
long a misunderstanding of each other?"

"Dearest Percy, I was to blame; but I always looked to this hour as to a
pleasure of which I could not bear to rob myself. I always fancied that
when this task was finished, and you could witness it, you would feel how
uppermost you always were in my thoughts, and forgive me many faults from
that consideration. I knew that I was executing your father's great wish;
I knew that you always, although unconsciously, perhaps, sympathised in
that wish. I only grieve that, as yet, it has been executed so
imperfectly."

"But how," continued Godolphin, gazing on the new pile as they now neared
the entrance, "how was it this never reached my ears through other
quarters?"

"But it did, Percy; don't you remember our country neighbour, Dartmour,
complimenting you on your intended improvements, and you fancied it was
irony, and turned your back on the discomfited squire?"

They now drove under the gates surmounted with Godolphin's arms; and in a
few minutes more, they were within the renovated halls of the Priory.