especial request father consented
to hide the beauties of his favourite old shooting-jacket under a more
clerical-looking overcoat of a greyish drab colour, or "Oxford mixture."
He was induced to don, too, a black felt hat, more in keeping with the
coat than the straw one he had worn in the garden; and thus "grandly
costumed," as he laughingly said to mother and Nell, who watched our
departure from the porch of the rectory, he and I set out to make our
purchases.

Dear me! the bustle and hurry and worry that went on in the house and
out of the house in getting my things ready was such that, as father
said more than once in his joking way, one would have thought the whole
family were emigrating to the antipodes, instead of only a mere boy like
me going to sea!

And then, when everything else had been packed and repacked a dozen
times or so by mother's loving hands in the big, white-painted sea-chest
that had come down from London--which had my name printed on the outside
in big capital letters that almost made me blush, and with such a jolly
little washhand-basin and things for dressing on the top of it just
inside the lid--the stupid outfitters delayed sending my blue uniform to
try on in time; and it was only on the very day before I had to start
that it was finished and sent home, for mother and Nellie to see how I
looked in it, as I wished them to do, feeling no small pride when I put
it on.

Tom, too, got away from Oxford to spend this last day with me at home;
and, though he could hardly spare the time, mother believed, from his
studies, I think he was more interested in some forthcoming race in
which his college boat was engaged.

My last morning came round at length, and with it the final parting with
mother and all at the rectory, which I left by myself. Father decided
this to be the wisest course; for, as I was, as he said, making my first
start in life, it was better to do so in a perfectly independent way,
bidding the dear home-folks good-bye at home.

My last recollection was of father's eyes fixed on mine with a loving
smile in them, and an expression of trust and hope which I determined to
deserve.

The long railway journey to town, which at any other time would have
been a rattle and whirr of delight and interest, seemed endlessly
monotonous to me, full of sad thoughts at parting with all I loved; and
I was glad enough when the train at length puffed and panted its way
into the terminus at London