the boys to bed, and Esther sat down on the front door-step all by
herself and sang "The Sweet By-and-bye" in a low voice.

The hands of the old fashioned clock in the dining room indicated ten
minutes to eight, when a carriage drove up to the gate, and a well built
young man jumped out, opened the gate and came in. As he entered the
house he shook hands with Esther, saying as he did so: "Go and put on
your hat and sack and take a ride with me Esther, and I will tell you
why I did not call last evening as I promised." This young man was Bob
McNeal, by trade a shoemaker, and a fine looking young fellow he was,
too. His hair and eyes were black, features, rather handsome, and he
wore a small black moustache.

As soon as Esther had received his invitation she ran up stairs, got her
hat and sack, ran down again, jumped into the carriage, which was a
buggy with room for two only, and off they drove. Jane came out to the
front door and called after them, just as they were driving away: "You
had better put the top up Bob, for it will certainly rain before long."

Dan, who had been sitting in the dining room in one of the easy chairs,
remarked to Jane as he was going up stairs: "What a pity Bob McNeal is
such a wild fellow. I'm afraid he will never amount to much. He is a
remarkably fine workman too; he has improved in his work since I took
him into the factory with me. Oh well, I suppose it's all right; good
night Jane."

"Good night Dan," said Jane.

"I hope your rheumatism will be better in the morning."