ged that many commissions
had been given to lads under sixteen, and as you had just arrived at
that age, and as I told him you have had no end of experience with
pirates and buccaneers, and all that sort of thing, he was silenced,
and your commission will appear in the next _Gazette_."

"Oh, Mr. Penfold!" Ralph exclaimed as he leaped from his seat in
delight. "I am obliged to you. That is glorious. I hardly even hoped I
could get a commission for some months to come. Don't look sad,
mother," he said, running round and kissing her. "I shan't be going
out of England yet, you know; and now the war is over you need have no
fear of my getting killed, and a few months sooner or later cannot
make much difference."

"I shall bear it in time, Ralph," his mother said, trying to smile
through her tears. "But it comes as a shock just at first."

The sight of his mother's tears sobered Ralph for a time, and during
supper the conversation was chiefly supported by Mr. Penfold, who
joked Ralph about his coming back in a few years a general without
arms or legs; and was, indeed, so cheerful and lively that Mabel could
scarcely believe her ears, so wholly unlike was he to the quiet friend
she had known as long as she could remember. The next fortnight was a
delightful one to Mabel, and indeed to all the party. Every day they
went driving-excursions through the country round. Ramsgate and Deal
and Folkestone were visited, and they drove over to Canterbury and
spent a night there visiting the grand cathedral and the old walls.

The weather was too cold for the water, for Christmas was close at
hand; but everything that could be done was done to make the time pass
happily. Mrs. Conway exerted herself to lay aside her regrets at
Ralph's approaching departure, and to enter into the happiness which
Mr. Penfold so evidently felt. The day before their departure for town
an official letter arrived for Ralph, announcing that he was gazetted
into his majesty's 28th Regiment of foot, and that he was in one
month's date from that of his appointment to join his regiment at
Cork.

"Now, Miss Mabel," Mr. Penfold said gayly, after the first talk over
the commission was concluded, "you will have for the future to treat
Mr. Ralph Conway with the respect due to an officer in his majesty's
service."

"I don't see any change in him at present," the girl said, examining
Ralph gravely.

The boy burst into a laugh.

"Wait till you see him in uniform,