It was still very early when they arrived at Lady Elmore’s house; and, as they were not expected, no one was up to receive them. They, however, got in quietly; and while his arrival was being made known to his mother, Sir Henry took True Blue to a room and advised him to turn in and get some sleep. He would, however, very much rather have been allowed to go out and see the wonders of the great city; but his friend assuring him that, if he did, he would inevitably lose himself, he reluctantly went to bed.
The moment, however, that his head was on the pillow, he was fast asleep, and, in spite of the bright sun which gleamed in at the window, it was not till nearly the family breakfast-time that he awoke.
He was awakened by a bland voice saying, “It is time to get up, sir. Shall I help you to dress?”
True Blue opened his eyes and saw before him a personage in a very fine coat, with powdered hair, who he thought must be some great lord or other, even though he held a can of hot water in his hand.
The young sailor sat up, and, seeing no one else in the room, said, pulling a front lock of his hair, “Did you speak to me, sir?”
“Sir Henry sent me to ascertain if you wanted anything,” answered the footman, somewhat puzzled, as he had not been told who the occupant of the room was.
When, however, he came to examine the clothes by the bedside, he guessed that he was some naval follower of his young master. He was about to carry off the clothes to brush them.
True Blue saw the proceeding with dismay. “Don’t take them away, please. I have no others!” he exclaimed. “But, I say, I’m very hungry, and shouldn’t mind some bread and cheese if there’s any served out yet.”
“I can get it for you at once; but breakfast will be ready directly, and you will find better things to eat then,” said the footman, smiling.
“Oh, I’ll be dressed in a jiffy, then,” answered True Blue, jumping out of bed and forthwith commencing his ablutions in sea fashion, and almost before the footman had left the room he was ready to go downstairs.