Pollyooly flushed again; and the gratitude in her eyes as they rested on him was beyond words. The train, one of the South-Eastern best, sauntered leisurely through the pleasant, sunny landscape, stopping meditatively at stations and between stations, as the whim took it, but at last it reached Hythe. They drove from there, proudly, in a wagonette to Pyechurch, along the edge of Romney Marsh, with the shining sea on their left hand. Pollyooly enjoyed the felicity of showing it to the Lump, who had never before seen it; but she was somewhat taken aback by his hailing a ship as a baa-lamb. They found Mrs. Wilson eagerly awaiting them. There was no doubt of her affection for the Honourable John Ruffin. She had a sumptuous tea ready for them; and after the journey and its excitement they dealt with it heartily. Any fear that the Honourable John Ruffin had felt of Mrs. Wilson's objecting to Pollyooly's grilling his bacon passed away when he saw how her heart went out to the two children. Indeed, before tea was over he was driven to say: "I see what it is, Mrs. Wilson: the Lump is going to usurp my place in your regard." "No one could do that, Master John; and well you know it," said Mrs. Wilson firmly. CHAPTER XI POLLYOOLY MEETS THE UNPLEASANT PRINCE Tea over, the Honourable John Ruffin proposed that he should take them to the sands; and Pollyooly agreed eagerly. But as they came out of the house, two little girls, bare-legged and wearing sandals, passed them. He looked from them to Pollyooly's stout shoes and black stockings, stopped short and said firmly: "We must change all this." He turned to the right down the street and led them into the chief shop of the village. Apparently he was well known there, for the proprietor greeted him with respectful warmth. He bought sandals, bathing-dresses, blue linen frocks, a sunbonnet for Pollyooly, a linen hat for the Lump, spades and buckets. Loaded with these purchases he came out into the street, and took his way back to Mrs. Wilson's, saying: "You must hurry up and change into these things. First impressions are so important at the seaside; people have so much leisure to be pernickety in; and you _must_ look all right!" Pollyooly was not long making the change; and when she came out of the house in the blue linen frock and sunbonnet, he smiled at her with warm approval and said: "There's no doubt about it, you have got the knack of wearing clothes, Pollyooly." To Pollyooly his utterance was entirely cryptic; but she gathered that it was complimentary and returned his smile.