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〃Well then；〃 said Alfred； and was just going to tell her all； but caught sight of Sampson making the most expressive pantomime to him to be cautious。 〃Well；〃 said he； 〃I have seen a sailor。〃
〃Ah！〃
〃And he is sure Mr。 Dodd is alive。〃
Mrs。 Dodd lifted her hands to heaven； but could not speak。 〃In fact；〃 said Alfred； hesitating （for he was a wretched hand at a fib）； 〃he saw him not a fortnight ago on board ship。 But that is not all； mamma； the sailor says he has his reason。〃
Mrs。 Dodd sank on her knees； and said no word to man； but many to the Giver of all good。 When she arose； she said to Alfred； 〃Bring this sailor to me。 I must speak with him directly。〃
Alfred coloured。 〃I don't know where to find him just now。〃
〃Oh； indeed；〃 said Mrs。 Dodd quietly： and this excited her suspicion； and from that moment the cunning creature lay in wait for Master Alfred。 She plied him with questions； and he got more and more puzzled how to sustain his story。 At last； by way of bursting out of his own net； he said； 〃But I am sorry to say his hair has turned white。 But perhaps you won't mind that。〃
〃And he hadn't a grey hair。〃
〃It is not grey； like the doctor's： it is as white as the driven snow。〃
Mrs。 Dodd sighed； then suddenly turning on Alfred； asked him； 〃Did the sailor tell you that？〃
He hesitated a moment and was lost。
〃You have seen him；〃 she screamed； 〃he is in London： he is in the house。 I feel him near me：〃 and she went into something very like hysterics。 Alfred was alarmed； and whispered the truth。 The doctor sent him off to meet them； and recommended caution； her nerves were in such a state a violent shock； even of happiness； might kill her。
Thus warned； Julia came into the room alone； and while Dr。 Sampson was inculcating self…restraint for her own sake； she listened with a superior smile； and took quite a different line。 〃Mamma；〃 said she； 〃he is in the town； but I dare not bring him here till you are composed： his reason is restored； but his nerves are not so strong as they were。 Now； if you agitate yourself； you will agitate him； and will do him a serious mischief。〃
This crafty speech produced an incredible effect on Mrs。 Dodd。 It calmed her directly： or rather her great love gave her strength to be calm。 〃I will not be such a wretch；〃 she said。 〃See： I am composed； quite composed。 Bring me my darling； and you shall see how good I will be： there now； Julia； see how calm I am； quite calm。 What； have I borne so much misery； with Heaven's help； and do you think I cannot bear this great happiness for my dear darling's sake？〃
On this they proposed she should retire to her room； and they would go for David。
〃Think over the meeting； dear； dear mamma；〃 said Julia； 〃and then you will behave well for his sake； who was lost to us and is found。〃
Husband and wife met alone in Mrs。 Dodd's room。 No eye； even of the children； ventured to witness a scene so strange； so sacred。 We may try and imagine that meeting； but few of us can conceive it by the light of our narrow experience。 Yet one or two there may bethe world is wide； and the adventures and emotions of our race are many。
One by one all were had up to that sacred room to talk to the happy pair。 They found David seated calmly at his wife's feet； her soft hand laid on his white hair； lest he should leave her again： and they told him all the sorrow behind them； and he； genial and kindly as ever； told them all the happiness before them。 He spoke like the master of the house； the father of the family； the friend of them all。
But with all his goodness he was sternly resolved to have his L。 14；000 out of Richard Hardie。 He had an interview with Mr。 Compton that very night； and the lawyer wrote a letter to Mr。 Hardie； saying nothing about the death of Skinner； but notifying that his client； Captain Dodd； had recovered from Noah Skinner the receipt No。 17 for L。 14；010 12s。 6d； and he was instructed to sue for it unless repaid immediately。 He added Captain Dodd was mercifully restored； and remembered distinctly every particular of the transaction。
They all thought in their innocence that Hardie _v。_ Hardie was now at an end。 Captain Dodd could prove Alfred's _soi…disant_ illusion to be the simple truth。 But Compton thought that this evidence had come too late。 〃What； may we not get up and say here is papa； and it is all true？〃 cried Julia indignant。
〃No； Miss Dodd； our case is closed。 And take my advice： don't subject your father to the agitation of a trial。 We can do without him。〃
Well then； they would all go as spectators； and pray that justice might prevail。
They did go： and all sat together to hear a matter puzzled over； which had David come one day earlier he would have set at rest for ever。
Dick Absolom was put in to prove that Alfred had put two sovereigns on the stumps for him to bowl if he could； and after him the defendant； Mr。 Thomas Hardie； a mild； benevolent； weak gentleman； was put into the box； and swore the boy's father had come to him with story after story of the plaintiff's madness； and the trouble it would get him into； and so he had done for the best。 His simplicity was manifest； and Saunders worked it ably。 When Colt got hold of him； and badgered him； he showed something more than simplicity。 He stuttered； he contradicted himself； he perspired； he all but wept
_Colt。_Are you sure you had no spite against him？
_Deft。_No。
_Colt。_You are not sure； eh？
This candid interpretation of his words knocked the defendant stupid。 He made no reply； but looked utterly flabbergasted。
_Colt。_Did he not provoke you？ Did he not call you an idiot。
_Deft。_He might。
_Colt。_ （satirically）。Of course he might。 （Laughter。） But did he？
_Deft。_ （plucking up a little spirit）。No。 He called me SOFT TOMMY。
This revelation； and the singular appropriateness of the nickname； were so highly relished by an intelligent audience； that it was a long time before the trial could go on for roars。 The plaintiff's ringing laugh was heard among the rest。
The cross…examination proceeded in this style till the defendant began to drivel at the mouth a little。 At last； after a struggle； he said； with a piteous whine； that he could not help it： he hated signing his name； some mischief always came of it； but this time he had no option。
〃No option？〃 said Colt。 〃What do you mean？〃
And with one or two more turns of the screw； out came this astounding revelation：
〃Richard said if I didn't put Taff in one； _he_ would put _me_ in one。〃
_The Judge。_In one what？
_Deft。_ （weeping）。In one madhouse； my lord。
A peal followed this announcement； and Colt sat down grinning。 Saunders rose smiling。 〃I am much obliged to the learned counsel for making my case；〃 said he： 〃I need not prolong the sufferings of the innocent。 You can go down； Mr。 Hardie。〃
_The Judge。_Have you any defence to this action？
〃Certainly； my lord。〃
〃Do you call Richard Hardie？〃
〃No； my lord。〃
〃Then had you not better confine yourself to the question of damages？〃
The sturdy Saunders would not take the hint； he replied upon the whole case； and fought hard for a verdict。 The line he took was bold； he described Richard Hardie as a man who had acqui