Her nephew! the one person of whom she was dreaming, for whom she was planning, older by many years than when she saw him last, but recognizable at once, as the best, the handsomest--but I will spare you her ravings.

She was certainly in her dotage as concerned this man.
"He was not alone.

At his side stood her sister, eagerly pointing across the alley to herself.

It was the appearance of the sister which presently convinced her that what she saw was reality and no dream.
Charity had risen from her bed to greet the newcomer, and her hasty toilet was not one which could have been easily imagine, even by her sister.

The long-absent one had returned.