Wynnette and Elva sat in front of them, and chattered incessantly to encourage themselves and their party, very much upon the same principle that boys are said to whistle in going through a churchyard at night, to keep up their spirits--for the children loved their cousin dearly and hated to part from him. Mr. Force sat on the front seat beside Jake, who drove. The horses went at full speed and fairly flew over the ground. When they emerged at last from the forest they saw the lights in the railway station gleaming in the distance, and soon after heard the far-off thunder of the approaching train. "Faster, Jacob! Faster!" cried Mr. Force. "Oh, Le, my boy, what a close shave this is! How much you have risked for the sake of spending a few more hours with us!" "Well, I gained the hours, and I shall catch the train!" exclaimed the young man, as the sleigh suddenly pulled up before the ticket office at the same instant that the train ran into the station. "Don't get out! there's no time!" exclaimed Le, as he suddenly strained Odalite to his bosom, kissed her passionately and started from his seat. A hasty handshake with his uncle and then with Jake, both of whom called blessings down on him; a hasty kiss to Wynnette and Elva, both of whom burst out crying and bellowed lustily; then a last long kiss again to his dear Odalite, who received it in a suffocating silence; and the next moment the young man had jumped from the sleigh and disappeared in the station, and almost immediately the train went on. The party in the sleigh waited in total silence but for the sobs of Wynnette and Elva, until the train had passed out of sight and hearing. "I thought he might have missed it, but he has not," said Mr. Force. "Oh, I wish, I wish he had!" sobbed Elva. "But what would have become of his honor, my dear?" questioned her father. "Oh, I don't care a pin for that sort of honor, any more than Mrs. Anglesea does! I wanted him--I loved him!" sobbed Elva. "I don't see why people should part when they don't want to and are not obliged to, just for a notion!" cried Wynnette. "Drive home, Jacob. But not too fast. We can spare the horses now," said Mr. Force. And the coachman turned the horses' heads and took the homeward road. They arrived at Mondreer at ten o'clock and found Mrs. Force, Mrs. Anglesea and Miss Meeke cozily sitting around the parlor fire and watching a jug of hot mulled port wine which the mistress had brewed for the returning cold and benumbed travelers. Mrs. Force took Odalite in her arms and kissed her in silent sympathy, while Mrs. Anglesea occupied herself with the congenial task of pouring out the hot, spiced wine into glass goblets for the party. They all sat around the table--those who had gone abroad and those who had stayed at home--and every one partook of the warming and exhilarating beverage, while Mr. Force related what a fine sleigh ride they had had, and how Le caught his train just in the nick of time.