up to London by the
Greenwich coach; and a walk of a few minutes after they were put down,
brought them to the chambers of Mr John Forster.

"How do you do, Mr Scratton? Is my uncle at home?" inquired Mr
Newton.

Mr Scratton immediately recognised him, and very graciously replied,
that his uncle was at home and would be very glad to see him, having
talked very often of him lately.

Newton and his father were ushered into the parlour, where he found his
uncle precisely in the same position as when he last saw him;--it would
almost have appeared that he had not quitted his seat during Newton's
tedious voyage.

"Nephew," said Mr John Forster, without rising from his chair, "I am
very glad to see you.--Brother Nicholas, I am very glad to see you
too.--Chairs, Scratton," continued the old lawyer, taking his watch off
the table, and placing it in his fob. "Well, nephew, I am very glad to
hear such good accounts of you. I saw Mr Bosanquet yesterday, and he
told me that you had for your good conduct been promoted to the rank of
second-mate."

"It is more than I am aware of," replied Newton, much pleased with the
information. "I am much obliged to you for the intelligence, as I am
for your many other acts of kindness."

"Well, so you ought to be; it's no bad thing, as I told you before, to
find out an uncle. By-the-bye, there has been some alteration in my
establishment since we parted, nephew. I have a house in Lincoln's Inn
Fields, and a spare bed, if you will accept of it. We dine at six;
brother Nicholas, I shall be very happy to see you, if you can stay. It
will be too late to go home after dinner, but you can share my nephew's
bed."

"I shall be most happy to accept your kind offer for a few days, sir, if
it does not incommode you," replied Newton.

"No; you will not incommode me _there_, but you do very much _here_,
where I am always busy. So good-bye, my boy; I shall be at home at six.
Brother Nicholas, you did not vouchsafe me an answer."

"About what, brother John?" replied Nicholas, who had been in the
clouds.

"Oh, I'll tell you all about it, father," said Newton, laughing. "Come
away now--my uncle is busy." And Nicholas rose up, with the
observation--

"Brother John, you appear to me to read a great deal."

"Yes, I do, brother."

"How much do you read a day?"

"I really cannot say; much depends upon whether I am interrupted or
not."

"It must be very bad for your eyes, brother John.