work upon Stonehenge,—make a tour by Reading and Henley, and end by a plunge into London."
"You have spoken well, Ned!" said Tomlinson, approvingly. "Now, noble Captain, your opinion?"
"Messieurs," answered Clifford, "I highly approve of your intended excursion, and I only regret that I cannot be your companion."
"Not! and why?" cried Mr. Pepper, amazed.
"Because I have business here that renders it impossible; perhaps, before long, I may join you in London."
"Nay," said Tomlinson, "there is no necessity for our going to London, if you wish to remain here; nor need we at present recur to so desperate an expedient as the road—a little quiet business at Bath will answer our purpose; and for my part, as you well know, I love exerting my wits in some scheme more worthy of them than the highway—a profession meeter for a bully than a man of genius. Let us then, Captain, plan a project of enrichment on the property of
