and a handsome, frank-looking English youth of about his own age came
quickly forward into the sunshine, to stand gazing at the guest from the
foot of the bed.

"I hope you slept well?" he said eagerly.

Denis looked at him admiringly, for there was something about the lad's
face which attracted him.

"Oh yes," he said--"Oh no. It has been all a troubled dream. I got
hurt yesterday, and my arm throbs horribly."

"Ah!" cried the new-comer. "I am very sorry. You are wounded?"

"No; I was in a bit of a fight with a man on horseback."

"You were? I wish I had been there!" cried the new-comer eagerly.
"Well? did you beat him?"

"I think so. He ran away. But I had my arm nearly wrenched out of the
socket."

"That's bad. You have had it seen to by a doctor, of course?"

"Oh no. It will get well. But who are you?"

"Oh, I'm Sir John Carrbroke's son Edward; but he always calls me Ned. I
was so tired last night and slept so soundly that I didn't hear you and
your friends come. Father woke me a little while ago and told me to
come and see you and welcome you to the Pines. Glad to see you. You've
just come from France, haven't you? But I needn't ask," continued the
boy, smiling. "Anyone would know you were French."

Denis flushed a little.

"Of course I can't talk English like you," he said pettishly. "But you
said something about breakfast."

"Yes. It will be all waiting by the time you are dressed."

"Then would you mind going--and--"

"Oh yes, of course; I'll go. Only I wanted to see our new visitor,
and--but you said your arm was all wrenched."

"Yes. I have only a misty notion about how I managed to undress."

"Of course. It must have been very hard. Here, I'll stop and help
you."

Denis protested, but the frank outspoken lad would not hear a word.

"Nonsense," he said. "I shall help you. I know how. I am a sort of
gentleman in waiting at the Court."

"Indeed!" cried Denis, looking at him wonderingly.

"Oh yes. I haven't been there long. My father used to be just the same
with the late King, and that made him able to get me there. It's only
the other day that I left the great school--a year ago, though; and
now," he added, laughing, "I am going to be somebody big--King Harry's
esquire--the youngest one there. I say, isn't it a nuisance to be only
a boy?"

"Oh no," said Denis, laughing, and quite taken by the friendly chatter
of his new acquaintance. "One wants to grow