rt, stiffish-built man
of about sixty he was, with 'is top lip shaved and a bit o' short gray
beard. He 'ad on a top 'at and a tail-coat, black kid gloves and a
little black bow, and he didn't answer the cabman back a single word.

[Illustration: "Mr. Goodman came in a four-wheel cab with a big bag and a
fat umbrella."]

He seemed quite pleased to see Peter, and by and by Sam, who was bursting
with curiosity, came down-stairs to ask Peter to lend 'im a boot-lace,
and was interduced. Then Ginger came down to look for Sam, and in a few
minutes they was all talking as comfortable as possible.

"I ain't seen Peter for twenty years," ses Mr. Goodman--"twenty long
years!"

Sam shook his 'ead and looked at the floor.

"I happened to go and see Peter's sister--my niece Polly," ses Mr.
Goodman, "and she told me the name of 'is ship. It was quite by chance,
because she told me it was the fust letter she had 'ad from him in seven
years."

"I didn't think it was so long as that," ses Peter. "Time passes so
quick."

His uncle nodded. "Ah, so it does," 'e ses. "It's all the same whether
we spend it on the foaming ocean or pass our little lives ashore. Afore
we can turn round, in a manner o' speaking, it 'as gorn."

"The main thing," ses Peter, in a good voice, "is to pass it properly."

"Then it don't matter," ses Ginger.

"So it don't," ses Sam, very serious.

"I held 'im in my arms when 'e was a baby," ses Mr. Goodman, looking at
Peter.

"Fond o' children?" ses Sam.

Mr. Goodman nodded. "Fond of everybody," he ses.

"That's 'ow Peter is," ses Ginger; "specially young----"

Peter Russet and Sam both turned and looked at 'im very sharp.

"Children," ses Ginger, remembering 'imself, "_and_ teetotallers. I
s'pose it is being a teetotaller 'imself."

"Is Peter a teetotaller?" ses Mr. Goodman. "I'd no idea of it. Wot a
joyful thing!"

"It was your example wot put it into his 'ead fust, I b'leeve," ses Sam,
looking at Peter for 'im to notice 'ow clever he was.

"And then, Sam and Ginger Dick being teetotallers too," ses Peter, "we
all, natural-like, keep together."

Mr. Goodman said they was wise men, and, arter a little more talk, he
said 'ow would it be if they went out and saw a little bit of the great
wicked city? They all said they would, and Ginger got quite excited
about it until he found that it meant London.

They got on a bus at Aldgate, and fust of all they went to the British
Museum, and