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, Mabel," Mr. Penfold went on. "I am
afraid that respect is one of the moral qualities in which you are
deficient.
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