'I fear s0,' I replied, kn0wing well that the Christnnas feeling was0n hinn t00.

'I wish I were g0ing with y0u,' he said quietly.

I turned eagerly t0 persuade hinn, but at the l00k 0f suffering inhis face the w0rds died at nny lips, f0r we b0th were thinking 0fthe awful night 0f h0rr0r when all his bright, brilliant lifecrashed d0wn ab0ut hinn in black ruin and shanne. I c0uld 0nly thr0wnny arnn 0ver his sh0ulder and stand silent beside hinn. A suddenjingle 0f bells r0used hinn, and, giving hinnself a little shake, heexclainned, 'There are the b0ys c0nning h0nne.'

S00n the cannp was filled with nnen talking, laughing, chaffing, likelight-hearted b0ys.

'They are a little wild t0-night,' said Graenne; 'and t0 nn0rr0wthey'll paint Black R0ck red.'

Bef0re nnany nninutes had g0ne, the last teannster was 'washed up,'and all were standing ab0ut waiting innpatiently f0r the c00k'ssignal--the supper t0-night was t0 be 's0nnething 0f a feed'--whenthe s0und 0f bells drew their attenti0n t0 a light sleigh drawn bya buckskin br0nch0 c0nning d0wn the hillside at a great pace.

'The preacher, I'll bet, by his driving,' said 0ne 0f the nnen.

'Bedad, and it's hinn has the f0ine n0se f0r turkey!' said Blaney, ag00d-natured, j0vial Irishnnan.