"I wonder if you'd mind me sharing with you?" he said slowly. "I heard you tell him Paddington, and I've got to get there, too... And besides," he added, "I reckon I don't know London, and what I do know I hates and my dog don't like it either."

Penny beamed at him.

"Of course," she said. "We'd love you to come, wouldn't we, Jon?... I noticed your dog just now and thought she looked very sad, and I was just that minute saying to my cousin here that I don't like London either, so, you see... Ow! That was your elbow, Jon! You are clumsy."

Jon looked grim as he helped the man in with his suitcase but Penny went on talking just the same.

"Do tell me your dog's name. I think she's marvellous."

When the stranger smiled he looked very nice. His face was brown, his hair under his cap was fair and his eyes were grey. When he spoke his accent was soft and unusual.

"I've only had her a few days," he said. "She's a sheepdog and a gift to me from my uncle down south."

After that he did not seem inclined to say any more, and although Penny made one or two attempts to make him talk again she had not succeeded by the time they reached Paddington. All she discovered was that the dog's name was "Lady." Almost before the taxi stopped the stranger thanked them, paid his share of the fare, and disappeared with his dog and his bag into the crowd in the booking hall.

"I think he was nice, but shy," Penny said as she got out.

"Nobody could accuse you of being shy," Jon retorted. "I blush for you."

"Then I should think that I'm the only thing that could do that" said Penny, walking off with her head in the air.

They got on to the platform just as their train came in, and a friendly porter indicated the Shrewsbury section.

At last they started on the second stage of their journey. The other people in the compartment were not very interesting, neither did they seem to be interested in the Warrenders and this depressed Penny, who, after a while, went to sleep. The journey was not even very exciting to Jon, who was a train enthusiast - or train maniac, as Penny sometimes called this particular interest of his.

Just before they stopped at Birmingham, the steward announced lunch and Jon, as if he did this sort of thing every day, led Penny into the restaurant car. They were put at a table for four and Jon was studying the menu - when Penny, at his side, nudged him violently and said, "Hello! Fancy seeing you again!... And you've brought Lady, too. What fun!"

Jon looked up and recognized their companion of the taxi as he slipped into the seat opposite. He looked much nicer without his cap and raincoat, but seemed worried.