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 not been present. Now, her daughter married, she was free to come to her cousin's house, and as she entered the room, Ruth saw her mother for the first time since the day of her departure for England.

There was a quick exclamation of joy, and in another moment, the words "Mother," "Ruth," heard only by those nearest, they were in each other's arms. John Bishop stood by with arms folded and a look of triumph lighting his handsome face, the proudest and happiest man in the province.

Soon the guests began to disperse, but there was a rumor current among all the little gatherings of two or three in the Pearson yard to the effect that Thomas Gardiner had spent the morning at the Watson house, and had declared as his conviction that Matthew's mind was unbalanced.