Jon crossed to her side and saw Penny coming to life on a scrap of paper.

"Why, you're an artist!" he blurted out in admiration, and the woman laughed.

"I always enjoy being told so," she said, giving the envelope to him. "Perhaps you would like to keep this of your sister? If you don't want it, I dare say someone else will one day... But is she your sister? You're not much alike."

"No. We're cousins, but Penny's people are in India, so she lives with us in the holidays... What do you think of yourself, Penny? Funny little thing, aren't you?"

"Ballinger is my name," the woman put in. "And, of course you can have that. Send it to your parents and tell them I'd like to paint you one day."

It was just when the train ran through Tonbridge that Miss Ballinger looked up from her paper and said, "Are you off to Hastings for your summer holiday? Late to start in September, isn't it?"

"We're not really going on a holiday at all, Miss Ballinger. This is all rather an adventure for us, though I expect Jon is too grown-up to admit it. You see, we're going to our new home and we've never even seen it before. Everyone I've told about it says that Rye is wonderful. Do you know it...?"

"Know it?" she said. "Of course I know it. And Winchelsea, too. I've got a little place down on Winchelsea beach. You'd both better come over and see me one day. How long are you staying in Rye?"

"We go back to school on the twenty-second," Jon said. "But we'll have a fortnight. I wonder if you know the Gay Dolphin? It's a little hotel in Trader's Street, and that's where we're going to live. "My mother's been down there for three weeks getting the place ready, and now we're going down to help a bit before she opens properly," Jon continued. "You see, it wasn't very easy for her with Penny and me at school when Dad was killed, and then an old uncle of Mother's who had lived in Rye all his life died. He owned the Gay Dolphin and he left it to her."

"I've stayed there before now," Miss Ballinger nodded. "I know it well. I've sketched it many a time from Trader's Street. Well, young man, if your mother wants guests, I'll come. I remember that the place was not very well run. When does she re-open? Do you know?"

Jon produced his wallet and took a neatly-folded letter from it. Before he spoke again Penny looked out of the window. They had passed Tunbridge Wells now and were rushing through the lovely Sussex Weald.

Jon was talking again.

"I've got a long letter from Mother here. Perhaps you'd like to hear what she says about it all?"

Miss Ballinger nodded. "Indeed, I would. I love Rye, and I know you'll love the Dolphin as much as I do."