“I do not like girlish boys, Ralph; but a boy can have a girlish face and yet be a true boy all over.  I fancy that’s your case.

“I hope so, sir.  I think I can swim or run or fight any of the chaps of my own age in the school; but I know I do look girlish about the face.  I have done everything I could to make my face rough.  I have sat in the sun, and wetted it with sea-water every five minutes, but it’s no use.”

“I should not trouble about it.  Your face will get manly enough in time, you may be sure; and I like you all the better for it, my boy, because you are certainly very like your mother.  And now, Ralph, I want you to enjoy yourself as much as you can while you are here.  The house itself is dull, but I suppose you will be a good deal out of doors.  I have hired a pony, which will be here to-day from Poole, and I have arranged with Watson, a fisherman at Swanage, that you can go out with him in his fishing-boat whenever you are disposed.  It is three miles from here, but you can ride over on your pony and leave it at the little inn there till you come back.  I am sorry to say I do not know any boys about here; but Mabel Withers, the daughter of my neighbor and friend the clergyman of Bilston, the village just outside the lodge, has a pony, and is a capital rider, and I am sure she will show you over the country.  I suppose you have not had much to do with girls?” he added with a smile at seeing a slight expression of dismay on Ralph’s face, which had expressed unmixed satisfaction at the first items of the programme.

“No, sir; not much,” Ralph said.  “Of course some of my schoolfellows have sisters, but one does not see much of them.”

“I think you will get on very well together.  She is a year or two younger than you are, and I am afraid she is considered rather a tomboy.  She has been caught at the top of a tall tree examining the eggs in a nest, and in many similar ungirl-like positions; so you won’t find her a dull companion.  She is a great pet of mine, and though she may not be as good a companion as a boy would be for you, I am sure when you once get to know her you will find her a very good substitute.  You see, not having had much to do with boys, I am not very good at devising amusement for you.  I can only say that if there is anything you would like to do while you are here you have only to tell me, and if it be possible I will put you in the way of it.”

“Thank you very much, sir.  You are extremely kind,” Ralph said heartily; for with a pony and a boat it did seem that his visit would not be nearly so dull as he had anticipated.  “I am sure I shall get on capitally.”

Just at his moment there was a knock at the door.  It opened, and a girl entered.

“You have just come at the right moment, Mabel,” Mr. Penfold said as she came in.  “This is Ralph Conway, of whom I was speaking to you.  Ralph, this is Mabel Withers.  I asked her to come in early this morning so as to act as your guide round the place.”