have your
dinner; but if you ever refuse to answer a question again, I shall
punish you more severely."

Tommy was glad the lecture was over, and more glad to get his
turtle-soup; he finished one plate, and, as he asked for another, he
said, "Tommy won't put thimble in again; put tin pot in next time."

After dinner they went to their work again, and did not come in again
till sunset.

"The clouds are gathering fast, sir," observed Ready; "we shall have
rain to-night."

"I fear we shall; but we must expect it now, Ready."

"Yes, sir; and by and by we shall have it for days together."

"Ready," said Mrs Seagrave, "if you are not too tired, perhaps you will
go on with your history."

"Certainly, ma'am, if you wish it," replied Ready. "When I left off, I
was on board of the collier, bound to London. We had a very fair wind,
and a quick passage. I was very sick until we arrived in the Nore, and
then I recovered, and, as you may suppose, was astonished at the busy
scene, and the quantity of vessels which were going up and down the
river. But I did not like my captain; he was very severe and brutal to
the men; and the apprentice who was on board told me to run away, and
get into another vessel, and not to bind myself apprentice to this
captain, or I should be beat all day long, and be treated as bad as he
was. I knew this was the case, as the captain kicked and cuffed him
twenty times a day. The men said that he did not do so to me, for fear
I should refuse to be his apprentice; but that, as soon as my indentures
were signed, he would treat me in the same way.

"Well, I made up my mind that I would not remain in the collier; and, as
the captain had gone on shore, I had plenty of time to look about me.
There was a large ship, which was ready to sail, lying in the stream; I
spoke to two boys who were at the stairs in her boat, and they told me
that they were very comfortable on board, and that the captain wanted
two or three apprentices. I went on board with them, and offered
myself. The captain asked me a great many questions, and I told him the
truth, and why I did not like to remain in the collier. He agreed to
take me; and I went on shore with him, signed my indentures, and
received from him a sufficient supply of clothes; and, two days
afterwards, we sailed for Bombay and China."

"But you wrote to your mother, Ready, did you not?" said William.

"Yes, I did; for the captain desired me to do so, and he