"Quite so, thank you, sir. I have been to the sea-side."
"Have you!" returned the Master, some surprise in his tone, for he knew how limited funds were at Talbot's home.
"Sir Simon Orville came to see my mother the day after I got home; he insisted that she should take me to the sea-side," said Talbot with a smile, as if he had divined those thoughts. The doctor understood the rest in a moment.
"I'm proud of Sir Simon; I'm proud to call him a friend," cried he, warmly. "I am glad you've been."
"If you please, sir, I wish my name to be entered for the Orville Exhibition," Talbot stayed to say.
"Do you? Very well. How old are you?"
"Close upon seventeen."
"All right. I don't care how many of you enter. Only one can gain it; but it will get the rest on in their studies. I'll just make a note of your name in pencil now."
He looked for his lead-pencil, and could not see it. Then, remembering that he had missed it the previous day, he put his hand in his pocket for the gold one. But it was not there.
"Why, what have I done with it?" cried the doctor, searching about. "Perhaps I took it into my study and left it there. Very careless of me! Go and see, Talbot: it will be on the table in the large inkstand."