like to trespass upon you. I am positively frightened at
the outfit your clerk has ordered. It is enormous. I'm sure I can't
want so many things, possibly, and I would really rather take a much
smaller outfit; and then, as I want them, I can have more things out
from England, and pay for them myself."

"You don't suppose," Mr. Tufton said sternly, "that I'm going to have
my nephew go out to India with the outfit of a cabin boy. I ordered
that you were to have the proper outfit of a gentleman, and I
requested my clerk to order a considerable portion of the things to be
made of a size which will allow for your growing, for you look to me
as if you were likely enough to run up into a lanky giant, of six feet
high. I suppose he has done as I ordered him. Don't let me hear
another word on the subject."

Chapter 2: The Young Writer.

For the next four days, Charlie followed his uncle's instructions and
amused himself. He visited Exeter Change, took a boat and rowed down
the river to Greenwich, and a coach and visited the palace of Hampton
Court. He went to see the coaches make their start, in the morning,
for all places in England, and marvelled at the perfection of the
turnouts. He went to the playhouses twice, in the evening, and saw Mr.
Garrick in his performance as Richard the Third.

On the fifth day, a great surprise awaited him. His uncle, at
breakfast, had told him briefly that he did not wish him to go out
before dinner, as someone might want to see him; and Charlie,
supposing that a messenger might be coming down from the India House,
waited indoors; and an hour later he was astonished, when the door of
the room opened and his mother and sisters entered.

With a shout of gladness and surprise, Charlie rushed into their arms.

"My dear mother, my dear girls, this is an unexpected pleasure,
indeed! Why, what has brought you here?"

"Didn't you know we were coming, Charlie? Didn't Uncle tell you?" they
exclaimed.

"Not a word," Charlie said. "I never dreamt of such a thing. What, has
he called you up here to stay till I go?"

"Oh, my dear, he has been so kind," his mother said; "and so funny! He
wrote me such a scolding letter, just as if I had been a very naughty
little girl. He said he wasn't going to allow me to bring disgrace
upon him, by living in wretched lodgings at Yarmouth, nor by his
grandnieces being sent out as governesses. So he ordered me at
once--ordered me Charlie, as if I had no will o