im. Sir
Ratcliffe and Lady Armine cheerfully assented to this proposition; and
as for Ferdinand, it is difficult to describe the delight which the
anticipation of his visit occasioned him. The three days that were
to elapse before his departure did not seem sufficient to ensure
the complete packing of his portmanteau: and his excited manner, the
rapidity of his conversation, and the restlessness of his movements were
very diverting.

'Mamma! is London twenty times bigger than Nottingham? How big is it,
then? Shall we travel all night? What o'clock is it now? I wonder if
Thursday will ever come? I think I shall go to bed early, to finish the
day sooner. Do you think my cap is good enough to travel in? I shall
buy a hat in London. I shall get up early the very first morning, and
buy a hat. Do you think my uncle is in London? I wish Augustus were not
at Eton, perhaps he would be there. I wonder if Mr. Glastonbury will
take me to see St. Paul's! I wonder if he will take me to the play. I'd
give anything to go to the play. I should like to go to the play and St.
Paul's! What fun it will be dining on the road!'

It did indeed seem that Thursday would never come; yet it came at last.
The travellers were obliged to rise before the sun, and drive over to
Nottingham to meet their coach; so they bid their adieus the previous
eve. As for Ferdinand, so fearful was he of losing the coach, that he
scarcely slept, and was never convinced that he was really in time,
until he found himself planted in breathless agitation outside of the
Dart light-post-coach. It was the first time in his life that he
had ever travelled outside of a coach. He felt all the excitement of
expanding experience and advancing manhood. They whirled along: at
the end of every stage Ferdinand followed the example of his
fellow-travellers and dismounted, and then with sparkling eyes hurried
to Glastonbury, who was inside, to inquire how he sped. 'Capital
travelling, isn't it, sir? Did the ten miles within the hour. You have
no idea what a fellow our coachman is; and the guard, such a fellow our
guard! Don't wait here a moment. Can I get anything for you? We dine at
Mill-field. What fun!'

Away whirled the dashing Dart over the rich plains of our merry midland;
a quick and dazzling vision of golden corn-fields and lawny pasture
land; farmhouses embowered in orchards and hamlets shaded by the
straggling members of some vast and ancient forest. Then rose in
the dis