The surprise was all the pleasanter when, on the day before our departure, there arrived by the carrier's cart from our nearest town a small, daintily-finished trunk, with a lock and key to it, and my initials in brass nails upon the outside.

It was a parting gift from my father.
"I like young ladies and gentlemen to have things nice about 'em," Nurse Bundle observed, as we prepared to pack my trunk.

"Then they takes a pride in their things, and so it stands to reason they takes more care of 'em." To this excellent sentiment I gave my heartiest assent, and proceeded to illustrate it by the fastidious care with which I selected and folded the clothes I wished to take.

As I examined my socks for signs of wear and tear, and then folded them by the ingenious process of grasping the heels and turning them inside out, in imitation of Nurse Bundle, an idea struck me, based upon my late reading and approaching prospects of travel.
"Nurse," said I, "I think I should like to learn to darn socks, because, you know, I might want to know how, if I was cast away on a desert island." "If ever you find yourself on a desolate island, Master Reginald," said Nurse Bundle, "just you write straight off to me, and I'll come and do them kind of things for you." "Well," said I, "only mind you bring Rubens, if I haven't got him." For I had dim ideas that some Robinson Crusoe adventures might befall me before I returned home from this present expedition.
My father's place was about sixty miles from London.

Mr.and Mrs.
Ascott had come down in their own carriage, and were to return the same way.
I was to go with them, and Nurse Bundle also.