Having secured a place for next day, dined, and ordered a bed, he passed the evening strolling about the streets of London, and next morning at six o'clock took his place on the coach.
"Going back from school, I suppose, young gentleman ?" a military-looking man seated next to him on the coach remarked as soon as they had left the streets behind them, and were rattling along the Old Kent Road.
"No, I am not going home from school," Ralph said with a smile.

"At least not from the sort of school you mean; though I have been learning a good deal too.

I arrived yesterday from the West Indies." "Indeed!" the gentleman said, scrutinizing him closely.

"I see you look sunburned and weather-beaten now that I look at you; but somehow I should not have put you down as a sailor." "Well, I am not exactly a sailor; though I may say I have worked as one before the mast both out and home.

That was my first experience; and I suppose one takes longer than that to get the regular nautical manner." "Before the mast, were you?
Then I suppose you have been getting into some scrape at home, young sir, and run away; for, from your appearance, you would hardly have been before the mast otherwise.