I am afraid we are full, unless it has been taken beforehand. However,
I will see if I can make shift somehow."

"I should be very much obliged if you can," Ralph said; "for I don't
know anything about London, and am going on by the Weymouth coach in
the morning."

"Oh, might your name be Conway?"

"Yes, that is my name," Ralph said, surprised.

"Ah, then there is a bedroom taken for you. A gentleman came three
days ago and took it, saying it was for a young gent who is going
through to Weymouth. Tom," she called, "take this box up to number 12.
Supper is ready for you, sir. I dare say you would like a wash first?"

"That I should," Ralph replied, following the boots upstairs.

In a few minutes he returned, and a waiter directed him to the
coffee-room. In a short time a supper consisting of fish, a steak, and
tea was placed before him. Ralph fell to vigorously, and the care that
had been bestowed by Mr. Penfold in securing a bedroom and ordering
supper for him greatly raised him in the boy's estimation; and he
looked forward with warmer anticipations than he had hitherto done to
his visit to him. As goon as he had finished he went off to bed, and
in a few minutes was sound asleep. At half-past six he was called, and
after a hearty breakfast took his seat on the outside of the Weymouth
coach.

Sitting beside him were four sailors, belonging, as he soon learned,