Wright and one or two others went nearly all the way with Eric, and when he got down at the little roadside station, from whence started the branch rail to Ayrton, he bade them merry and affectionate farewell.

The branch train soon started, and in another hour he would be at Fairholm.
It was not till then that his home feelings woke in all their intensity.
He had not been there for a year.

At Roslyn the summer holidays were nine weeks, and the holidays at Christmas and Easter were short, so that it had not been worth while to travel so far as Fairholm, and Eric had spent his Christmas with friends in another part of the island.

But now he was once more to see dear Fairholm, and his aunt, his cousin Fanny, and above all, his little brother.

His heart was beating fast with joy, and his eyes sparkling with pleasure and excitement.