The boy followed his uncle up the path to the side-door of the farmhouse, his eyes taking in every detail of the scene. He was staring about him when the door opened, and revealed a jolly-faced, red-cheeked man with sandy whiskers and very blue eyes, who grinned delightedly at sight of Mr. Pepperdine, and held out a hand of considerable proportions. ‘We were just looking out for you,’ said he. ‘We heard the whistle, and the missis put the kettle on to boil up that minute. Come in, Simpson--come in, my lad--you’re heartily welcome. Now then, missis--they’re here.’ A stout, motherly-looking woman, with cherry-coloured ribbons in a nodding cap that crowned a head of glossy dark hair, came bustling to the door. ‘Come in, come in, Mr. Pepperdine--glad to see you safe back,’ said she. ‘And this’ll be your little nevvy. Come in, love, come in--you must be tired wi’ travelling all that way.’ The boy took off his hat with a courtly gesture, and stepped into the big, old-fashioned kitchen. He looked frankly at the farmer and his wife, and the woman, noting his beauty with quick feminine perception, put her arm round his neck and drew him to her. ‘Eh, but you’re a handsome lad!’ she said. ‘Come straight into the parlour and sit you down--the tea’ll be ready in a minute. What’s your name, my dear?’ The boy looked up at her--Mrs. Trippett’s memory, at the sight of his eyes, went back to the days of her girlhood. ‘My name is Lucian,’ he answered. Mrs. Trippett looked at him again as if she had scarcely heard him reply to her question. She sighed, and with a sudden impetuous tenderness bent down and kissed him warmly on the cheek. ‘Off with your coat, my dear,’ she said cheerily. ‘And if you’re cold, sit down by the fire--if it is spring, it’s cold enough for fires at night. Now I’ll be back in a minute, and your uncle and the master’ll be coming--I lay they’ve gone to look at a poorly horse that we’ve got just now--and then we’ll have tea.’ She bustled from the room, the cherry-coloured ribbons streaming behind her. The boy, left alone, took off his overcoat and gloves, and laid them aside with his hat; then he put his hands in the pockets of his trousers, and examined his new surroundings. CHAPTER II