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and. "Well, then, why don't you go?" cried Jack. "I was a-thinking, sir. I say, as you are awake, and there's plenty of time, why don't you try on some of your noo things?" "Bah! because I don't want to make myself ridiculous," said the lad peevishly. "You wouldn't look ridiculous, sir. You try 'em, and if I was you I'd go down to breakfast in 'em. Sir John would be as pleased as Punch to see you begin to take a little more interest in going." "Look here!" cried Jack, springing from his pillow to sit upright in bed, "when I want any of your advice, sir, I will ask for it. Such impertinence!" "Oh, I beg your pardon, sir, but I only thought you might like to do what Sir John would wish to see. I put 'em all straight last night, and laid a suit of tweeds, with knickerbockers, brown plaid worsted stockings, and high-laced brown shooting-boots, all ready for you." "Then it was like your insolence, sir." "Yes, sir, and the boots are lovely, sir; just the thing! Stout strong water-tights as lace on right to the knee. Leather's as soft as velvet. They'll be grand for you when you're going through the jungle where there's leeches and poisonous snakes." "Ugh!" ejaculated the boy with a shudder. "Oh, you needn't mind them, sir; I've been reading all about 'em in the Natural History Sir John's lent me. They always run away from you when they can." "And when they cannot they bite venomously," cried Jack. "That's it, sir," said Edward, "if they can." "And they can," said Jack. "If you don't kill 'em first," said the man, laughing, "and that's the proper thing to do. Kill everything that wants to kill you. Don't want me then yet, sir?" "Only to go," said Jack, throwing himself down again and drawing up the coverings close to his ear. "Yes, sir; I'll be back again at half-past seven." Jack made no reply, and the man went off laughing to himself. "He's getting stirred up," he said. "I never saw him take so much notice before." Jack lay perfectly still for another hour, apparently asleep, but really thinking very deeply of his position, and of how hard it seemed to be that he should be obliged to give up his calm quiet life among his books to go upon a journey which, the more he thought of it, seemed to grow darker and more repellent. He was still thinking and wishing that he could find some way to escape when Edward came into the room again, bearing clothes, boots, and hot-water c
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