"Yes, I mean that," he said, smiling wistfully.
"Oh, well! that is not everything, after all," she answered, brightly. "You are young enough to begin again. And, after all, what we call failures may be stepping-stones to success, and you will win in the end, I know you will. God will not let you fail."
"I wish I believed in God as you do," he said, with downcast eyes.
"So long as God believes in you it won't matter so much," she answered, cheerfully. "But I must be going back now. You are going further, I presume?"
"I am going to spend Christmas with my grandfather, at Tregannon."
"Is that far?"
"About six or seven miles."
"And are you going to walk all the distance?"
"I expect so, unless someone overtakes me who can give me a lift by the way."
"I hope you will have a very happy Christmas."