The youth raised his cap and bowed to the elder members of the party before answering the girl. Then he said:
"I did not know that I could come until an hour before I started. I came by the midnight express, and reached here just in time for church. I have not seen, or I should say, I have not spoken to, any one here yet except yourself.
"Last evening, being Friday evening, we were at work very late on our Saturday's supplement, and a Christmas story in it. Very often we have to work on Christmas night, if the next day is a week day; and every Sunday night--that is, from twelve midnight, when the Sabbath ends--we have to work to get out Monday morning's paper."
"Well, I never have had a whole holiday since I have been in the _Watch_ office; but last night, about half-past ten, after the paper had gone to press, the foreman came to me, paid my wages up to the first of January, and told me that I need not return to the office at midnight after Sunday, but might have leave of absence until Monday morning, so as to have time to go and spend Christmas with my friends if I wished to do so."
Just then Clarence Rockharrt joined them and said, anxiously:
"Mother, dear, I think you had better get into the carriage. It is very bleak out here, and you might take cold."
Mrs. Rockharrt at once took the arm of her youngest and best-beloved son and let him lead her away to the spot where the comfortable family coach awaited them.
"Come with us to the carriage door, Rule," said the girl, looking back and stretching her hand out toward the youth.
Regulas touched his hat and followed. Fabian put his niece in the seat beside her grandmother, and then turned to the youth and inquired:
"What are you going to do with yourself to-day?"
"I shall go down to my old home, sir, Mother Scythia's hut."
"Oh! Ah! Yes; I remember. You are going to stop there?"
"Yes, sir; but I shall try to see all old friends to-day or to-morrow, and I should like to go to Rockhold to thank all the friends there who have been kind to me, and to tell Mrs. Rockharrt and Miss Cora, who were kindest of all, how I have got on in the city."
"Certainly! Certainly, Rule! Come whenever you like! And see here! It is a long, rough road from here to old Scythia's Roost, which is right on our way to Rockhold. Sorry we cannot offer you a seat in the carriage but you see there are but four seats and there are already five people to fill them."