"He is very kind," said the invalid faintly smiling. "I am no great sight, I am afraid, but any friend of yours is welcome, my kind nurse."
"I did not come to stare at you, but to see what I could do for you," said Jack, seating himself by the bed. "My father has sent you some nourishing food, and bid me ask what else we could do for you. You seem very ill and weak."
"I have gained a little, I think, since I came here," said the invalid. "It is such a wonderful blessing to be among kindly English folk once more and to lie still in a clean and decent bed."
"I am sure you are heartily welcome," said Mary Brent. "But I will leave Master Jack to sit by you if he will be so kind, for I have matters to attend to below stairs."
Mary went away, and Jack remained quietly sitting by the side of the invalid, who seemed to have fallen into a doze. The more Jack looked at him, the more certain he became that he had seen him or some one like him before.
Presently the stranger opened his eyes and asked for drink. Jack supplied his wants and arranged his pillow comfortably.
"Do you live in this place?" asked the stranger whom Mary Brent had called Paul. "You do not look like a town-bred lad."
"I am so nevertheless," replied Jack; "but I have been keeping sheep all the summer with my good uncle at Holford."
"At Holford!" repeated Paul with a little start.
"Yes, my uncle is shepherd to the good knight of Holford."