Gablehurst was all very well as a resting place for him when he had had enough of travel, of adventure, of the gay and rollicking life of the town; but for the present let his mother reign there undisturbed.

He had no wish to do so.
Therefore he found it easy to be loving and gentle and kindly towards her and Rachel.

Indeed, Rachel seemed to him a more attractive maiden than she had ever been before.

She had smiles for him, where once she had only grave looks of disapproval; and she delighted in his stories almost as much as Rosamund Cale had done.
Altogether, this visit was a mighty pleasant one for Tom; and it lasted for ten whole days before the news was brought to him that a strange gentleman had ridden up and was asking for him, and he knew that Lord Claud had come to fetch him.
Tom had had the prudence to say very little about their purpose in going abroad.

His mother and sister knew that it had some connection with the war, and that the Duke of Marlborough was going to send some despatches by them; but he told them not to name even this fact to the neighbours, and he had not mentioned to them the mysterious words "secret service." When he reached the hall door, there was Lord Claud mounted upon the black horse Lucifer, who looked in tip-top condition.