"Here you are, Ada! Have you got the canvas?" asked Tom, raising his head.
"Yes, here it is. Now look, Tom; watch while I do a straight row, and then you shall work a few stitches."
Tom lost his listlessness and became interested; very soon, he caught the way to do it, and went on by himself quite absorbed, while Arthur and Ada talked.
"I wonder what Frank Compton will be like?" said Ada.
"Like other boys, I suppose."
"It will be a great change for us to have him here."
"Yes, something a little lively; but what a long time mamma is gone to the station."
"She will soon be here," said Arthur, glancing at the clock; "it is nearly one o'clock now."
Soon after this a cab stopped at the door, and they both hurried to the window to see their visitor alight.
He was a tall youth of sixteen, the son of a friend in Scotland, and had just returned from his first voyage in a merchant vessel. His father had written to Dr. Arundel, asking permission for him to spend a few days with them, until Mr. Compton should have time to come up to London and join his son.