"You were? I wish I had been there!" cried the new-comer eagerly. "Well? did you beat him?" "I think so. He ran away. But I had my arm nearly wrenched out of the socket." "That's bad. You have had it seen to by a doctor, of course?" "Oh no. It will get well. But who are you?" "Oh, I'm Sir John Carrbroke's son Edward; but he always calls me Ned. I was so tired last night and slept so soundly that I didn't hear you and your friends come. Father woke me a little while ago and told me to come and see you and welcome you to the Pines. Glad to see you. You've just come from France, haven't you? But I needn't ask," continued the boy, smiling. "Anyone would know you were French." Denis flushed a little. "Of course I can't talk English like you," he said pettishly. "But you said something about breakfast." "Yes. It will be all waiting by the time you are dressed." "Then would you mind going--and--" "Oh yes, of course; I'll go. Only I wanted to see our new visitor, and--but you said your arm was all wrenched." "Yes. I have only a misty notion about how I managed to undress." "Of course. It must have been very hard. Here, I'll stop and help you." Denis protested, but the frank outspoken lad would not hear a word. "Nonsense," he said. "I shall help you. I know how. I am a sort of gentleman in waiting at the Court." "Indeed!" cried Denis, looking at him wonderingly. "Oh yes. I haven't been there long. My father used to be just the same with the late King, and that made him able to get me there. It's only the other day that I left the great school--a year ago, though; and now," he added, laughing, "I am going to be somebody big--King Harry's esquire--the youngest one there. I say, isn't it a nuisance to be only a boy?" "Oh no," said Denis, laughing, and quite taken by the friendly chatter of his new acquaintance. "One wants to grow up, of course; but I don't know that I ever felt like that." "Perhaps not," said his companion, busily helping him with his garments; "but then you see you're not at Court where there are a lot of fellows who have been there for a bit, ready to look down upon you just because you're new, and glare at you and seem ready to pick a quarrel and to fight if ever the King gives you a friendly nod or a smile.--No, no: I'll tie those points. Don't hurt your arm--but wait a bit.--I am young and inexperienced yet, and they're too much for me, but I am hard at it." He ceased speaking, but stood with his mouth pursed up, frowning, as he tied the points in question. "I see you are," said Denis, "playing servant to me; and it's very good of you, for my arm does feel very bad." "Good! Nonsense!" cried the lad merrily. "You'd do the same for me if I were visiting at your father's house, and crippled." "That couldn't be," said Denis sadly. "I have no father's house--he's dead." "Oh, I am sorry!" "He was a soldier, and died fighting for the King."