By Englands Aid | Page 6

Stour as far as Harwich with their father when he
was called thither on business. To them Harwich with its old walls and
the houses crowded up within them, and its busy port with vessels
coming in and going out, was most delightful, and they always talked
about that expedition as one of the most pleasant recollections of their
lives.
After breakfast was over on 1st of May, 1587, and they had done their
lessons with their father, and had worked for an hour by themselves,
the boys put by their books and strolled down the village to the bridge.
There as usual stood their friend Master Lirriper with his hands deep in
his pockets, a place and position in which he was sure to be found
when not away in his barge.
"Good-morning, Master Lirriper."
"Good-morning, Master Geoffrey and Master Lionel."
"So you are not down the river to-day?"
"No, sir. I am going to-morrow, and this time I shall be away four or
five days--maybe even a week."
"Shall you?" the boys exclaimed in surprise. "Why, what are you going
to do?"
"I am going round to London in my nephew Joe Chambers' craft."

"Are you really?" Geoffrey exclaimed. "I wish we were going with you.
Don't you think you could take us, Master Lirriper?"
The bargeman looked down into the water and frowned. He was slow
of speech, but as the minutes went on and he did not absolutely refuse
the boys exchanged glances of excitement and hope.
"I dunno how that might be, young sirs," John Lirriper said slowly,
after long cogitation. "I dus-say my nephew would have no objection,
but what would parson say about it?"
"Oh, I don't think he would object," Geoffrey said. "If you go up and
ask him, Master Lirriper, and say that you will take care of us, you
know, I don't see why he should say no."
"Like enough you would be ill," John Lirriper said after another long
pause. "It's pretty rough sometimes."
"Oh, we shouldn't mind that," Lionel protested. "We should like to see
the waves and to be in a real ship."
"It's nothing much of a ship," the boatman said. "She is a ketch of about
ten tons and carries three hands."
"Oh, we don't care how small she is if we can only go in her; and you
would be able to show us London, and we might even see the queen.
Oh, do come up with us and ask father, Master Lirriper."
"Perhaps parson wouldn't be pleased, young sirs, and might say I was
putting wandering thoughts into your heads; and Mistress Vickars
might think it a great liberty on my part."
"Oh, no, she wouldn't, Master Lirriper. Besides, we will say we asked
you."
"But suppose any harm comes to you, what would they say to me
then?"
"Oh, there's no fear of any harm coming to us. Besides, in another year

or two we mean to go over to the Low Countries and fight the
Spaniards, and what's a voyage to London to that?"
"Well, I will think about it," John Lirriper said cautiously.
"No no, Master Lirriper; if you get thinking about it it will never be
done. Do come up with us at once," and each of them got hold of one of
the boatman's arms.
"Well, the parson can but say no," he said, as he suffered himself to be
dragged away. "And I don't say as it isn't reasonable that you should
like to see something of the world, young sirs; but I don't know how the
parson will take it."
Mr. Vickars looked up irritably from his books when the servant came
in and said that Master Lirriper wished to see him.
"What does he want at this hour?" he said. "You know, Ruth, I never
see people before dinner. Any time between that and supper I am at
their service, but it's too bad being disturbed now."
"I told him so, sir; but Master Geoffrey and Master Lionel were with
him, and they said he wanted particular to see you, and they wanted
particular too."
The clergyman sighed as he put his book down.
"If Geoffrey and Lionel have concerned themselves in the matter, Ruth,
I suppose I must see the man; but it's very hard being disturbed like this.
Well, Master Lirriper, what is it?" he asked, as the boatman
accompanied by Geoffrey and Lionel entered the room. Master Lirriper
twirled his hat in his hand. Words did not come easily to him at the best
of times, and this was a business that demanded thought and care. Long
before he had time to fix upon an appropriate form of words Geoffrey
broke in:
"This is what it is, father. Master Lirriper is going down the