Mrs.
Tufton and Rachel had come out to welcome Tom's friend, and the rider was sitting bare headed in the afternoon sunlight, looking mightily handsome and gallant.
"Ah, good Tom, so you are e'en at hand when wanted.

I have been detained somewhat longer than I thought; but all is in readiness now for a start for the port of Harwich.

Have you got yourself and Nell into first-class condition?
for we have work before us, my lad." "But, sir, you will not surely start today, with the shades of evening drawing on so fast ?" pleaded Mrs.Tufton, who felt a sinking at heart in the thought of parting from her son again.

"You will lie here for one night at least, and start forth with the day before instead of behind you ?" "If you will favour me with so much hospitality, gracious madam, I should be glad to do so," answered Lord Claud with a courtly bow; and in another minute his horse was being led away to the stables, and he was following the ladies into the house, speaking so many words of well-chosen admiration for the quaint old manor and the fine meadowland and timber trees about it, that Tom was prouder of his home than he had ever been before, and even of the mother and sister who dwelt there.

For Lord Claud paid them as much attention, and gave them as courtly treatment, as though they had been the highest ladies in the land; and it seemed as though their native refinement and tact enabled them to make fitting reply to him, and to show a certain simple dignity of mien which Tom had never troubled himself to observe in them before.
He observed now that Rachel was a very handsome girl, rather like himself in feature, but with more refinement of aspect and more thoughtfulness of disposition.