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.