“Yes; and here he is ready-made and proved.”
“Not yet.”
“Oh,” said the doctor, “I’ll answer for that.”
Chapter Five.
The “Silver Star.”
A busy fortnight followed, during which Jack Meadows accompanied his father and the doctor up to town pretty well every day, to visit tailors, hatters, hosiers, gunsmiths, fishing-tackle-makers, naturalists, provision dealers, and help to spend money at a liberal rate upon the many necessaries for a long voyage. To do the lad justice, he tried hard to hide his distaste for all that was being done, and assumed an interest in the various purchases, making Sir John appear pleased, while Doctor Instow patted his shoulder, and told him that he looked brighter already. But when alone at night his depression came back, and there were moments when, tired out, he told himself that he could not bear it all, and that he must tell his father the next morning that it was impossible—he could not go.
But when the morning; came he said nothing, for on rising the matter did not look so black and gloomy by daylight, after a night’s rest; and he felt that it would be too cowardly to make such a declaration, when his father was doing everything and going to so great an expense entirely for his sake.
“Because he thinks me weak and ill,” he said to himself; “and nothing will persuade him that I am not.”