And when the morning came, he was both amazed and delighted.

The near tragedy of the previous night might never have happened in so far as he could judge from Joanne's appearance.

When she came out of her room to meet him, in the glow of a hall lamp, her eyes were like stars, and the colour in her cheeks was like that of a rose fresh from its slumber in dew.
"I'm so happy, and what happened last night seems so like a bad dream," she whispered, as he held her close to him for a few moments before descending the stairs.

"I shall worry about Peggy, John.

I shall.