"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 other being." "Come! Come down to breakfast. You have been traveling all night without food, I feel sure; and fasting and vigils never were means of grace to a Rockharrt. Come!" said Mr. Fabian, with a laugh. "I must get a room and go to it first. Look at me!" said Clarence. "You do look like the ash man or blacksmith, certainly. Well, come along; we'll go to the office and get a room, and then you can get some of that dust off you. It won't take ten minutes. After that we will go to breakfast." The brothers left the parlor together. The next moment Violet entered it, and bade good morning to Corona, who in turn told her of the new arrival. "Clarence! Oh, I am so glad! What an addition he will be to our party, Cora, especially after you have left us, my dear, when we shall miss you so sadly," said Violet. Cora made no reply. She disliked to tell Violet that she, Violet, would lose the society of Clarence at the same time that she would lose that of herself, as her uncle was to leave Washington by the same train. While they were still talking the two brothers re-entered the parlor.