It's a good job Hawkesbury's booked you, my boy, for I meant to ask you to join us, and that would have done you out of your quiet day with Petty-Cash and his friends, which would be a pity." The Monday came at last, and opened perfectly.

My spirits rose as I looked out and saw the blue cloudless sky overhead, and thought of the trees, and birds, and flowers, and country air I was so soon to be among.
I was to meet my party at the Horseshoe stables in the City, and thither I repaired in good time, in my smartest get-up, and with a shilling plum-cake under my arm, which I had made up my mind to take as my contribution to the commissariat of the expedition.

I passed Style Street on my way, and came in for hilarious greeting from Billy.
"Hi! shine 'e boots, governor?
My eye, there's a nob! Shine 'e all over, governor.

Ain't you got 'em on, though?
What's up, mister ?" "See you again soon, Billy," said I, bustling on.

I was angry with him for the way he laughed, and for the description of me I knew quite well he would presently give to Jack Smith.
Early as I was at the rendezvous, Hawkesbury was before me, and with him his friend Masham.