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A STRANGE, SAD COMEDY
121

"I don't believe this old trap will ever get us to Corbin Hall," he said to Farebrother.

The two men were pleasant enough together, although each wished the other back in New York. Farebrother inquired about Mr. Romaine, and Sir Archy mentioned that the whole party would be down the next week.

It was quite dusk when the ramshackly old coach rattled and banged up to the door of Corbin Hall. The house looked exactly as it had on that November night ten years before, when Sir Archy had made his entry there.

The hall door was wide open, and from it poured the ruddy glow of the fire in the great drawing-room fire-place, and two candles sent a pale ray into the darkness. The Colonel stood waiting to receive them, with Letty and Miss Jemima in the background. When the two men alighted and entered the house, the Colonel nearly sawed their arms off.

"Delighted to see you, my dear young friends," he cried, "and most fortunate and agreeable for us all that you are here together."

The Colonel, in his simplicity, actually believed this. Miss Jemima's greeting and Letty's was not less cordial, and each of the two men would have felt perfectly satisfied