“What now?” inquired the lady, in some uneasiness.
“I mean I am not going away to-morrow morning. I can go to-morrow night, and be in time to join my ship on the third. It will be a close shave, as to time, auntie; but then, it will give me twelve more hours with you all. Twelve precious hours! Aunty, are you sorry? You look so grave.”
“No, dear boy, I am glad to have you until the last possible moment. I only regret that you have to go at all,” kindly replied Mrs. Force.
“Yaw! Oh, Lord! I could crack my jawbones a-gasping! Never was so sleepy in my life! Say, good folks, ain’t it time to go to bed? After being up most all night, and not even getting a wink of sleep this morning.”
The suggestion came from the lady from the gold diggings, of course; and it was so speedily acted upon—especially since Leonidas had announced his intention of deferring his departure until the next night—that in less than half an hour the parties had separated and retired to their several bedrooms.
The next day was the last that Leonidas Force would spend at Mondreer for three years, at least.
All that day Mr. Force was closeted with his overseer, in his office, looking over the farm books and making up the accounts for the year just closed.
Mrs. Force was merciful, and told Leonidas and Odalite to spend this last day as they pleased.
The young couple, warmly clothed, set out through the splendid winter sunshine and over the crisply frozen snow to walk to Greenbushes.
They went out by the north gate, through the woods, across Chincapin Creek, and so on to the farmhouse.