ed Sabbath, before me, I only waited to close the works at six
o'clock, as usual, and then I hurried away, packed a carpet bag and
caught, by half a minute, the six-thirty express for Baltimore and
Washington, and came straight through! It was a twelve hours' journey,
my dear, without stopping except to change cars, which connected
promptly, and so you see I have lost no time! I have just arrived, and
did not have to wait five minutes even to see you, for you were here to
receive me! And now that I am here, my dear, I shall stay to see you off
with the Nevilles. You go to-morrow, as I understand? There has been no
change in the programme?"

"We go to-morrow, Uncle Clarence," replied Corona, in a grave, sorrowful
tone, for she was sympathizing with him.

"By what train, my child?"

"The eight-thirty express, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad."

"Then I need not part with you here in Washington. Our routes are the
same for some hundred miles. I shall travel with you as far as the North
End Junction, and take leave of you there. That will be seeing the very
last of you, up to the very last minute."

Just at this moment Mr. Fabian entered the parlor, and recognizing his
younger brother and junior partner, approached him with a shout:

"Clarence! by all that's magical! Pray, did you rise from the earth, or
fall from the skies, that I find you here?"

"How do you do, Fabian? I came in the most commonplace way you can
imagine--by the night express train--and have only just now arrived,"
replied Mr. Clarence.

"And how goes on the works?" inquired Fabian Rockharrt.

"Admirably."

"Glad to hear it. And what brought you here, if it is a civil question?"

"It isn't a civil question, but I'll answer it all the same. I came to
see Cora once more, to spend the last Sabbath with her and to accompany
her as far on the journey to-morrow as our way runs together, which will
be as far as the North End Junction."

"And you will not reach North End before Monday night! A whole day lost
at the works, Clarence! Ah! it is well you have me to deal with instead
of the father--Heaven rest his soul!"

"See here, Fabian," said Mr. Clarence, "for a very little more I will go
with Cora all the way to Fort Farthermost, as her natural protector and
helper in her missionary work. What, indeed, have I to keep me here in
the East since the father left us? Nothing whatever. You have your wife
and child; I have no one. Cora is nearer to me than any