"Then you won't come to dinner?" said Ida when Herrick presented himself. "What a pity! Bess _will_ be disappointed."
"I think not," replied Herrick dryly. "I understand Joyce is coming. But that is neither here nor there, I shall tell Stephen that you want him and so shall be left alone in the house. Will you send over Sidney to dine with me. I want him particularly."
"But he is only a boy. He will bore you."
"On the contrary, I find him a very interesting study. You know I promised to take him in hand. Well, I want to have a talk with him."
"I am sure it is very good of you to take so much trouble Dr. Jim," said Ida gratefully. "Certainly; I will send him when he returns from the moor. He went out for a walk. And you will tell Stephen to come over?"
"Yes, as soon as I get back. He has been writing poetry all the day, and needs to be taken out of himself. I am very glad you have asked him."
Herrick bowed himself out and returned to "The Pines." Of course Stephen was delighted at the idea of a dinner with Ida, but did not want to leave his friend alone. "That's all right," said Herrick. "Sidney is coming to keep me company."
Stephen shuddered. "Then I am glad I am going away," he said, "that boy is most uncomfortable--so uncanny."
"You will certainly find more pleasure in Miss Endicotte's society!" laughed Herrick. Stephen laughed too and looked sharply at his friend. But true to his reticent nature he said nothing.
In due time Marsh-Carr departed and Sidney arrived. The boy had more colour in his cheeks, and his eyes had lost the fixed expression noticed by Don Manuel. He and Dr. Jim were on friendly terms and Sidney was pleased that he had been asked to dine. All the same he made a bad meal. The dinner was excellent but the boy restricted himself to the plainest of the dishes and very little of them. He did not touch meat but seemed to prefer vegetables. Herrick noticed this abstinence.
"You will never grow strong if you don't eat beef, Sidney," he said with a smile, "all English boys should eat beef."
"I never liked it," replied the boy abruptly. "I do not like any meat; it is disagreeable to me."
"No. I once drank a glass of beer. Ugh!" Sidney made a wry face and shuddered at the recollection. "How can people like such things."