"Valmai!" he said, "oh, Valmai, Valmai!" and dropping on to a seat, he
covered his face with his hands, and through his fingers trickled some
silent tears.
"I must forbid any more excitement for the present," said the doctor;
"let us go in to dinner."
And as they gathered round the table, Cardo took his seat next to his
uncle, with more cheerfulness and alacrity than usual.
The thread of memory, once awakened, never wholly slept again. Daily
and almost hourly memories of the past returned to him, and as he
gained bodily and mental strength, he gradually unfolded to his uncle
the incidents which had preceded his coming to Australia.
When Lewis Wynne became fully aware of his brother's deep-seated
affection for him, and of the penitence and remorse which had darkened
his life, he was filled with an impatient anxiety to return to the land
of his birth and the brother whom he had loved so much. Indeed, before
his acquaintance with his nephew, he had already begun to arrange his
affairs with the intention of disposing of his property in Australia,
for he had prospered in all his undertakings, and was now a wealthy man.
It was delightful news therefore to Cardo when his uncle one day
appeared at Dr. Belton's, with the information that he had concluded a
satisfactory sale of his property.
"So we'll go back together, old boy," he said, slapping Cardo on the
back in his usual jovial manner; "you can write to your father, and
tell him to look out for a house for Nellie and me."
"I will write to him to-day," said Cardo; "poor old dad, poor old dad!
What he must have suffered! I only hope the suspense has not killed
him!"
"Well, if he is alive," said his uncle, "your good news will make up to
him for all the past! We'll have some happy days in the old country
yet. You must get married, Cardo, and settle down near us!"
"I am married," said Cardo, with a whole-hearted laugh at Dr. Belton's
look of astonishment.
"Married!" said the doctor, "I never suspected that! I did think that
long golden curl pointed to some love-affair."
"It did, indeed," said Cardo; "it is one of my sweet wife Valmai's
curls!"
"Where is she now?" said Mr. Wynne, "with your father?"
"No," he said, with a more serious look, "living with her uncle. The
truth is, my father knows nothing about our marriage, and I have only
yesterday written to tell him the whole truth; and now that I am able
to add the delightful news that you are returning with me, I think it
will soften his heart, and he will forgive our secrecy."
"What objection has he to the lady?"
"She is the Methodist minister's niece."