All right,
mother. I think I can promise that I will be on my best behavior, and
will try hard to get on even with his sisters. I wish he had asked
Phil Landrey to go down with me. Two fellows can get on anywhere."
"I should have very little hope of your making a good impression if
you went there with your friend Phil," Mrs. Conway said, smiling. "I
can believe in your good conduct while you are alone, but I should
have no hopes whatever of you if you and he were together."
"But how am I to go, mother? It seems such a tremendous way from here
down into Dorsetshire."
"I have not thought anything about it yet, Ralph; but probably Mr.
Penfold will give some instructions as to your journey when he hears
from me that you are coming."
CHAPTER II.
A COUNTRY VISIT.
When Ralph had gone off to school again Mrs. Conway sat down to answer
the letter--by no means an easy task--and she sat with the paper
before her for a long time before she began. At last, with an air of
desperation, she dipped her pen into the ink and began:
"MY DEAR HERBERT PENFOLD: It is difficult to answer such a letter
as yours--to say all one feels without saying too much; to express
the gratitude with which one is full, but of which one feels that
you do not desire the expression. First, a word as to the past.
Pages:
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39