The big man smiled at the eagerness of the boy's tone.
"Likely you ain't never been away from home before, son," said he, as he took a key out of a glass case on the wall of the barn and slipped it into his pocket.
"No—that is, not to stay."
"Quite some adventure, eh?"
The lad shot a bright glance toward him.
"Yes."
"Well, well! Count yourself lucky, youngster, that you've had a good home and a good mother up to now; and bless your stars, too, that since you are going to start branching out you're coming to a place like Surfside rather'n somewhere else."
His voice was gentle and his misty eyes mistier than ever.
Striding ahead he crossed the lawn, unlocked a low building, and mounting the stairs, stopped before a door in the hall above. With a turn of the key it swung open, disclosing a small sheathed room containing a white iron bed, bureau, table, chairs, and bookshelves.
"Think this will suit your Highness?" grinned he.