rld teems with wonders one would like to try and
investigate. If I did not know that I was doing some little good
amongst my fellow-creatures, my life would be unbearable, and I would
have thrown it all up long ago."

"Then if I decide to follow out your advice, you will come with us?"

"No," said the doctor firmly; "it would not do."

Jack brightened up again.

"Why would it not do?" said Sir John anxiously. "The plan is excellent,
and I am most grateful to you for the suggestion. Come with us, Instow,
for I certainly will go."

Jack groaned.

"Look at him," cried the doctor. "There's spirit. The sooner you get
to sea the better."

"Yes, I have decided upon it, if you will come."

"No, no; impossible."

"Because of leaving your practice?"

"Oh no; I could arrange that by having a _locum tenens_--`local demon'
as the servant-girl in _Punch_ called him."

"Then what objection is there?"

"Why, it's just as if I had been planning a pleasure-trip for myself at
your expense."

"That's absurd, Instow, and an insult to an old friend. Look here, if
you will come I shall look upon it as conferring a great favour upon us.
We shall both be under a greater obligation to you than ever."

"I say, don't tempt me, Meadows. I'm not a bad doctor, but I'm a very
weak man."

"But I will tempt you," cried Sir John eagerly. "Come, you can't let
your old friend go without a companion, and stop here at home, knowing
that there will be times when you could help Jack there on his way to
health and strength."

"No, I can't--can I?" said the doctor, hesitating. "But no, no, it
wouldn't do."

"Here, Jack, come and help me press him to go with us."

"I can't, father; oh, I can't," cried the boy despairingly.

"Oh, that settles it!" said Doctor Instow, jumping up. "You've done it
now, Jack. You're worse than I thought."

"Then you will come?" cried Sir John, holding out his hand.

"I will," cried the doctor, "wherever you like to go;" and he brought
down his hand with a sounding slap into his friend's. "Here, Jack," he
cried directly after, "shake hands too. Come, be a man. In less than
six months those dull filmy eyes of yours will be flashing with health,
and you'll be wondering that you could ever have sat gazing at me in
this miserable woe-begone fashion. There, pluck up, my lad. You don't
know what is before you in the strange lands we shall visit. Why, when
your father and I were boys of your age, w