"Darrell, old boy! is this you?" he exclaimed; "Great Scott! what have you been doing to yourself these two years?"
"Plenty of time for explanations later," said Darrell, shaking hands heartily; "Ned, I want you to know my father; father, this is my old chum, now Dr. Elliott."
The young physician's face betrayed astonishment, but he shook hands with Mr. Britton with no remarks beyond the customary greeting.
"Now, Ned," continued Darrell, "get us out of this mob as quickly as you can; I don't want to be recognized here."
"Not much danger with that white pate of yours; but come this way, my carriage is waiting. I did not let out that you were coming back, for I thought you wouldn't want any demonstration from the crowd here, so I told no one but father; he's waiting for you in the carriage."
"You're as level-headed as ever," Darrell remarked.
They reached the carriage, greetings were exchanged with Mr. Elliott, and soon the party was driving rapidly towards the village.
"We will go at once to my office," Dr. Elliott remarked to Darrell, who was seated beside himself; "we can make arrangements there as to the best method of breaking this news to your mother."
"You have told her nothing, then?" Darrell inquired.
"No; life has so many uncertainties and she has already suffered so much. You had a long journey before you; if anything had happened to detain you, it was better not to have her in suspense."