"I suppose you have friends to meet you?" he said; "but if I can be of any use in getting your luggage, &c., I shall be very happy." "I suppose they will send some one to meet me," said Kate, carelessly; "but," she added, a doubt on the point glancing across her mind for the first time, "if not, I will gladly avail myself of your kind offer." "What part of the town, may I ask, are you going to?" "Carleton Terrace, New Park." "Oh, indeed. I live near that myself." A little more desultory talk brought them to the platform; and stepping from the carriage, Miss Vernon looked round in hopes of discovering the promised person to meet her; but none appeared; therefore, accepting the old gentleman's proffered aid, she proceeded to disentangle her luggage from the miscellaneous and momentarily encreasing pile, which the porters were pitching, with their usual dexterity and disregard of consequences, out of the van. Kate had but few packages; some undefined feeling had induced her to leave much of her belongings under Mrs. Storey's care--she could not bear to think of Carrington as anything but a temporary abode. "Another small black box--the same name--Miss Vernon," she said to the porter who was collecting her luggage; her words attracted the notice of an awkward boy of about fifteen, who had been examining the second-class passengers, as if in search of some one; he was heavy-looking, without being large, his movements slow and uncouth, and his face of a leaden bilious complexion, wore an expression of stupid surprise. "Are you Miss Vernon?" he asked, in an abrupt, harsh voice, which was at its harshest epoch. "Yes," said Kate, looking at him doubtfully, uncertain what rank in society to assign him; his face would not have been misplaced under a basket of oranges, nor his clothes on the heir apparent of an earldom. "All right," said the interesting youth. "gran'ma sent me to meet you. I'm Pembridge Wilson; shall I call a cab? Busses don't go near the Park." "If you please, a cab," said Kate; and, turning to her friendly _companion de voyage_, thanked him for his kind attention. "Holloa, Pem., is that you?" he cried, as his eyes fell on Kate's new acquaintance. "I did not know I was travelling with a friend of yours. I shall have the pleasure of seeing you again," he said to Kate, "as you are going to the Wilsons'." "I shall be very happy," she returned, bowing, and walked towards the cab. "Stop," whispered Master Pembridge, "make a bargain with the man before they put up the luggage; you, go--I'll stay here." "No," said Kate, "I am afraid he would not mind me much. I dare say, he will not charge more than he ought." Master Pem's usual state of amazement seemed to receive a slight addition at these words, and as he followed Miss Vernon into the vehicle, a keen ear might have overheard a muttered "my eye!"