Toward evening they became
rather hilarious, but for the last two hours dozed quietly; the man
sitting next to Ralph lurching against him heavily in his sleep, and
swearing loudly when the boy stuck his elbow into his ribs to relieve
himself of the weight. Ralph was not sorry, therefore, when at ten
o'clock at night the coach arrived at Weymouth. The landlord and
servants came out with lanterns to help the passengers to alight, and
the former, as Ralph climbed down the side into the circle of light,
asked:
"Are you Master Conway?"
"That's my name," Ralph replied.
"A bed has been taken for you, sir, and a trap will be over here at
nine o'clock in the morning to take you to Penfold Hall."
Supper was already prepared for such passengers as were going to sleep
in the hotel; but Ralph was too sleepy to want to eat, and had made a
good meal when the coach stopped at six o'clock for twenty minutes to
allow the passengers time for refreshments. At eight o'clock next
morning he breakfasted. When he had finished the waiter told him that
the trap had arrived a few minutes before, and that the horse had been
taken out to have a feed, but would be ready to start by nine. Ralph
took a stroll for half an hour by the sea and then returned. The trap
was at the door, and his trunk had already been placed in it.
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