The Young Buglers | Page 5

she is evidently determined to
do her duty to you, and you must do yours to her, and not play more
pranks than you can help. As to you, Rhoda, you will evidently be in
high favor, and as you are fortunately a quiet little lady, you will, I
have no doubt, get on with her very well."
"I hope so," Rhoda said, smiling, "you see she means to be kind,
though she does write funny letters, and, at any rate, there are Minnie
and the pigeons; it sounds nice, you know. Do you know what aunt's
place is like, Dr. Jarvis, and how to get there from here."
"No, my dear, I never was in that part of England. It is close to
Marlborough that she lives, a very pretty country, I believe. There is, of
course, no way to go across from here. You must go up to London by
coach from here, and then to Marlborough by the western coach. I will
write to my brother James in town, where you stopped at night as you
came through, boys, and I know that he will take you all in for the night,
and see that you go off right in the morning."
"You're very kind, indeed, Doctor Jarvis. I do not know how to thank
you for all you have done for us," Tom said earnestly, and the others
cordially echoed the sentiment.
The day before starting the doctor had a long talk with the boys. He
pointed out to them that their future now depended upon themselves
alone. They must expect to find many unpleasantnesses in their way,
but they must take their little trials pleasantly, and make the best of
everything. "I have no fear as to Rhoda," their kind friend said. "She
has that happy, amiable, and quiet disposition that is sure to adapt itself
to all circumstances. I have no doubt she will become a favorite with
your aunt. Try to keep out of scrapes, boys. You know you are rather
fond of mischief, and your aunt will not be able to understand it. If you
get into any serious difficulty write to me, you can rely upon always
finding a friend in me."

The journey to London was no novelty to the boys, but Rhoda enjoyed
it immensely. Her place had been taken inside, but most of the journey
she rode outside with her brothers. She was greatly amazed at the bustle
and noise of London, and was quite confused at the shouting and crowd
at the place where the coach drew up, for two or three other coaches
had just arrived from other directions. Mr. Jarvis had sent his
man-servant to meet them, their luggage was sent direct to the
booking-office from which the coach started for Marlborough, and the
servant carried a small bag containing their night things. It was evening
when they got in, and Rhoda could scarcely keep her eyes open long
enough to have tea, for the coach had been two days and nights upon
the road. The next day they stayed in town, and Mrs. Jarvis took them
out to see the sights of London--the Tower and St. Paul's, and
Westminster Abbey, and the beasts at Exeter Change. The boys had
twice before spent a whole day in London, their father having, upon
two occasions, made his visits to town to fit in with their going up to
school, but to Rhoda it was all new, and very, very wonderful.
The next day the coach started early for Marlborough. It was to take
rather over twenty-four hours on the way. As before, Rhoda rode
outside with her brothers until the evening, but then, instead of going
inside, where there were five passengers already, she said, as the night
was so fine and warm, she would rather remain with them. They were
sitting behind the coachman, there were two male passengers upon the
same seat with them, and another in the box seat by the coachman. The
conversation turned, as in those days it was pretty sure to turn, upon
highwaymen. Several coaches had been lately stopped by three
highwaymen, who worked together, and were reported to be more
reckless than the generality of their sort. They had shot a coachman
who refused to stop, the week before on Hounslow Heath, they had
killed a guard on the great north road, and they had shot two passengers
who resisted, near Exeter.
Tom and Peter were greatly amused by observing that the passenger
who sat next to them, and who, at the commencement of the
conversation, showed a brace of heavy pistols with which he was
provided, with much boasting as to what he should do if the coach were

attacked, when he heard of the fate of the passengers