It had been arranged that Mr. Force, Odalite, Wynnette and Elva should accompany their cousin to the distant railway to see him off--"to see the last of him," as Wynnette put it, in a tragi-comic air. They were to go in the large sleigh, drawn by a pair of draught horses driven by Jake. Tea had been ordered at half-past five o'clock, and the sleigh was to be brought to the door at six. By that time the moon would be up and the road lightened. The servants were punctual. At the appointed hour the whole family gathered around the tea table, and by much tea drinking and more talking and laughing, tried to enliven the gloom of the last hour. As soon as tea was over, the girls flew off upstairs to put on hooded cloaks and shawls and overshoes for their moonlight sleigh ride. Leonidas put on his ulster and seal cap, and then made a round of the house and the stables and quarters to bid good-by to all the servants, who gave him many prayers and blessings, after the manner of their warm hearts. When he returned to the hall he found Mr. Force and the three girls already packed in the sleigh under heaps of bearskins. "Make your adieus as brief as possible, my dear boy! It is necessary to 'speed the parting guest,' or he will not catch the train, and then what will become of his official honor?" called out Mr. Force from the sleigh. Le caught his aunt in his arms and kissed her while he received her blessing. Then he embraced Miss Meeke, who cried over him a little. Finally he gave his hand to Mrs. Anglesea to bid her a respectful and friendly good-by; but that affectionate creature caught him in her arms and pressed him to her bosom, saying, when she had kissed him heartily: "Lord bless you, young un! I don't care if you do miss the train and fail to report for duty and get court-martialed and dismissed the service; for then yer can stay home and marry your gal--and let honor be hanged and the service go to Old Scratch! You'll be happy with your fine farm and your pretty wife." "Come, come, Le! My dear fellow, come!" called Mr. Force. Leonidas broke away from the kindly arms that held him and hurried into the sleigh, which started off so suddenly that the young midshipman literally dropped into the seat that had been kept for him beside Odalite. The sleigh sped over the snow-clad, moonlit ground, through the north gate of the lawn and into the forest. Before reaching Chincapin Creek it turned off to the left and took the road to the railway station. Their way lay through the forest for many a mile. Odalite and Leonidas sat in the back seat, covered with the same bearskin, and with their hands clasped together. Very few words passed between them. But the frequent hand pressures silently spoke.