Renton to send Dick Driver next day up to the office.

"If you can spare the lad, I will take him home with me, as Mrs Dear
will like to see him," he observed.

"I intended to have taken you to my house, Charley," said Captain
Renton, as he wished me good-bye, "but I am sure it will be to your
advantage to accept Mr Dear's invitation."

In the afternoon, I drove out with Mr Dear to his country house, in the
neighbourhood of London. It appeared to me a perfect palace. I had
never before since I could recollect been in any house larger than Mr
Newton's cottage.

Mrs Dear, a very kind lady, soon made me feel perfectly at home.

"We are much interested in you, Charley," she said, "and Mr Dear will
do his best to discover your relations in the West Indies. In the mean
time we think you will benefit by going to school."

I was very sorry to leave Captain Renton, but said I was ready to do
whatever she and Mr Dear thought best.

The next evening, when Mr Dear returned, he said that he could not
ascertain from Dick Driver the name of the island from which I had been
taken away. At the same time he observed: "I conclude that I shall be
able to learn at the Admiralty what place it was the _Laurel_ and her
consorts attacked."

I spent a couple of weeks with my new friends before they found a school
to which I could be sent. Captain Renton, accompanied by Dick, came out
to see me. Dick had agreed to sail again in the _Phoebe_, and promised
that, on his return, he would not fail to pay me a visit. He looked
very downcast.

"We have been together for the best part of ten years, Charley," he
said, as he wrung my hand, "and if I did not know it was for your good,
I could not bear the thoughts of parting from you; but you are in kind
hands, and I know it's better for you to remain on shore, and I am not
one to stand in your way--I love you too well for that."

The next day Mr Dear drove me down to a large school at Hammersmith. I
was introduced to the master, Mr Rushton, a tall gentleman with white
hair, who looked very well able to keep a number of boys in order, and
Mr Dear gave him a brief account of my history.

"The lad will do very well," he said, patting me on the head. "I have
boys from all parts of the world, and he will soon find himself at home
among them."

As soon as Mr Dear had gone, Mr Rushton, taking me by the hand, led me
into the playground, where upwards of a hundred boys were rushing about,