ynnette 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.

They all drank Le's health in a final glass, and then separated, and
retired to rest.

CHAPTER XLVIII

A WEDDING AT MONDREER

How they missed Leonidas at Mondreer can be felt by all who have ever had
a dear one leave the family for an absence of years in far distant lands.

In the city such a loss is felt painfully enough; but the busy life of the
crowd distracts attention from individual missings.

In the country, and in the winter, when clouds, and rain, and snow
prevail, and with bad weather they have worse roads, and no interchange of
neighborly courtesies, and all within the house is still, silent and
depressing, the absence of the friend is felt far more deeply.

The day after Le's departure the weather changed, bringing a dull, gray
sky, and a warm rain, that melted all the splendor of the snow, and turned
the hard roads into gullies of mud, so confining the family of Mondreer to
their own house.

Certainly they tried "to be jolly under difficulties."

Mr. Force reminded them that they had really nothing to mourn over, sinc