The expression of heavy sadness on the Judge's face
changed to one of bewilderment, and as he scanned the radiant
countenance of Matthew Kendrick's grandson he turned suddenly pale with
joy.
"You don't mean--"
Then he comprehended that Richard was finding it as hard to speak good
news as if it had been bad. But in an instant the young man was in
command of himself again.
"It wasn't apoplexy--it wasn't paralysis--it was only the shock of the
fall and the bruises. He's been talking to me; he's been twitting the
doctor on having been fooled. Oh, he's as alive as possible, and
I--Judge Gray, I never was so happy in my life!"
With congratulations in his heart for his old friend on the possession
of this young love which was as genuine as it was strong, the Judge
said: "Well, my dear fellow, let us thank God and breathe again. This
has been the darkest night I've spent in many a year--and this is the
brightest morning."
Everybody in the house was presently rejoicing in the news. But if
Richard expected Roberta to be as generous with him in his joy as she
had been in his grief he found himself disappointed.
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