t it time
to think of setting out, sir?' said Hal to his uncle. 'The company, you
know, are to meet at the Ostrich at twelve, and the race to begin at
one, and Lady Diana's horses, I know, were ordered to be at the door at
ten.'

Mr. Stephen, the butler, here interrupted the hurrying young gentleman
in his calculations.

'There's a poor lad, sir, below, with a great black patch on his right
eye, who is come from Bristol, and wants to speak a word with the young
_gentlemen_, if you please. I told him they were just going out with
you, but he says he won't detain them more than half a minute.'

'Show him up--show him up,' said Mr. Gresham.

'But I suppose,' said Hal, with a sigh, 'that Stephen mistook when he
said the young _gentlemen_. He only wants to see Ben, I dare say. I'm
sure he has no reason to want to see me. Here he comes. Oh, Ben, he is
dressed in the new coat you gave him,' whispered Hal, who was really a
good-natured boy, though extravagant. 'How much better he looks than he
did in the ragged coat! Ah, he looked at you first, Ben, and well he
may!'

The boy bowed, without any cringing civility, but with an open, decent
freedom in his manner, which expressed that he had been obliged, but
that he knew his young benefactor was not thinking of the obligation.
He made as little distinction as possible between his bows to the two
cousins.

'As I was sent with a message by the clerk of our parish to Redland
Chapel out on the Downs to-day, sir,' said he to Mr. Gresham, 'knowing
your house lay in my way, my mother, sir, bid me call, and make bold to
offer the young gentlemen two little worsted balls that she has worked
for them,' continued the lad, pulling out of his pocket two worsted
balls worked in green and orange-coloured stripes. 'They are but poor
things, sir, she bid me say, to look at; but, considering she has but
one hand to work with, and _that_ her left hand, you'll not despise 'em,
we hopes.' He held the balls to Ben and Hal. 'They are both alike,
gentlemen,' said he. 'If you'll be pleased to take 'em. They're better
than they look, for they bound higher than your head. I cut the cork
round for the inside myself, which was all I could do.'

'They are nice balls, indeed. We are much obliged to you,' said the boys
as they received them, and they proved them immediately.

The balls struck the floor with a delightful sound, and rebounded higher
than Mr. Gresham's head. Little Patty clapped her hands