CHAPTER XL.
"Prodigious!"
In due time, Mr. Van Brunt was on his legs again, much to everybody's joy, and much to the advantage of fields, fences, and grain. Sam and Johnny found they must "spring to," as their leader said; and Miss Fortune declared she was thankful she could draw a long breath again, for, do what she would, she couldn't be everywhere. Before this John and the Black Prince had departed, and Alice and Ellen were left alone again.
"How long will it be, dear Alice," said Ellen, as they stood sorrowfully looking down the road by which he had gone, "before he will be through that before he will be able to leave Doncaster?"
"Next summer."
"And what will he do then?"
"Then he will be ordained."
"Ordained! what is that?"
"He will be solemnly set apart for the work of the ministry, and appointed to it by a number of clergymen."
"And then will he come and stay at home, Alice?"