"Your mother was my father"s sister?"

"Yes."

"My aunt，consequently?"

He bowed.

"My uncle John was your uncle John? You，Diana，and Mary are his sister"s children，as I am his brother"s child?"

"Undeniably."

"You three，then，are my cousins; half our blood on each side flows from the same source?"

"We are cousins; yes."

I surveyed him. It seemed I had found a brother: one I could be proud of,- one I could love; and two sisters，whose qualities were such，that，when I knew them but as mere strangers，they had inspired me with genuine affection and admiration. The two girls，on whom，kneeling down on the wet ground，and looking through the low，latticed window of Moor House kitchen，I had gazed with so bitter a mixture of interest and despair，were my near kinswomen; and the young and stately gentleman who had found me almost dying at his threshold was my blood relation. Glorious discovery to a lonely wretch! This was wealth indeed!- wealth to the heart!- a mine of pure，genial affections. This was a blessing，bright，vivid，and exhilarating;- not like the ponderous gift of gold: rich and wele enough in its way，but sobering from its weight. I now clapped my hands in sudden joy- my pulse bounded，my veins thrilled.

"Oh，I am glad!- I am glad!" I exclaimed.

St. John smiled. "Did I not say you neglected essential points to pursue trifles?" he asked. "You were serious when I told you you had got a fortune; and now，for a matter of no moment，you are excited."

"What can you mean? It may be of no moment to you; you have sisters and don"t care for a cousin; but I had nobody; and now three relations,- or two，if you don"t choose to be counted,- are born into my world full-grown. I say again，I am glad!"