when they recovered from the first surprise at the proposal, both of
them thought that the trip would be an extremely pleasant one; for in
those days it was quite an event in the lives of people residing at a
distance from a town to pay a visit to the metropolis.

"Then everything is arranged delightfully," Mr. Penfold said. "This
will be a holiday indeed for me; and however much you may all enjoy
yourselves I shall enjoy myself a great deal more. Now, I suppose I
may tell Mabel of our arrangement?"

"But you don't know that Mrs. Conway will take her in yet. Surely you
are going to wait to hear from her?"

"Indeed I am not, Mrs. Withers. I am as impatient as a schoolboy to be
off. And I am perfectly certain that Mrs. Conway will be very glad to
receive her. She knows Mabel, for I have given her an idea of my fancy
about that matter; and of course she will be glad to learn something
of your girl."

"But she may not have a spare room," Mrs. Withers urged feebly.

"It is not likely," Mr. Penfold said decisively; "and if there should
be any difficulty on that score it will be very easily managed, as
Ralph can give up his room to Mabel, and come and stay at the hotel
with me."

Mr. Withers laughed. "I see that it is of no use raising objections,
Penfold; you are armed at all points. I scarcely know you, and have
certainly never seen you possessed of such a spirit of determination."

Mr. Penfold smiled. "It would have been better for me, perhaps, if I
had always been so determined, Withers. At any rate I mean to have my
own way in this matter. I have not had a real holiday for years."

So Mr. Penfold had his own way, and carried off Mabel wild with
delight and excitement upon the day after he had received Mrs.
Conway's letter. There was no shade of embarrassment in the meeting
between Mrs. Conway and the man who had once been her lover. It was
like two old and dear friends who had long been separated and now come
together again. Mr. Penfold's first words after introducing Mabel had
reference to Ralph.

"Your boy has grown quite a man, Mary, in the last six months. I
scarcely recognized the bronzed young fellow who met vis at the coach
office as the lad who was down with me in the summer. Don't you see
the change, Mabel?"

"Yes, he is quite different," the girl said. "Why, the first time I
saw him he was as shy as shy could be. It was quite hard work getting
on with him. Now he seems quite a man."

"Nothing lik