WhenThursdayeveningcametherewasgreatexcitementatourhouse,MymotherhadaskedmewhatweretheDoctor'sfavoritedishes,andIhadtoldher:spareribs,slicedbeet-root,friedbread,shrimpsandtreacle-tart. To-nightshehadthemallonthetablewaitingforhim;andshewasnowfussingroundthehousetoseeifeverythingwastidyandinreadinessforhiscoming. Atlastweheardaknockuponthedoor,andofcourseitwasIwhogottherefirsttolethimin. TheDoctorhadbroughthisownflutewithhimthistime. Andaftersupperwasover(whichheenjoyedverymuch)thetablewasclearedawayandthewashing-upleftinthekitchen-sinktillthenextday. ThentheDoctorandmyfatherstartedplayingduets. TheygotsointerestedinthisthatIbegantobeafraidthattheywouldnevercometotalkingovermybusiness.ButatlasttheDoctorsaid, "Yoursontellsmethatheisanxioustobecomeanaturalist." Andthenbeganalongtalkwhichlastedfarintothenight. Atfirstbothmymotherandfatherwereratheragainsttheidea—astheyhadbeenfromthebeginning. Theysaiditwasonlyaboyishwhim,andthatIwouldgettiredofitverysoon. Butafterthematterhadbeentalkedoverfromeveryside,theDoctorturnedtomyfatherandsaid, "Wellnow,supposing,Mr.Stubbins,thatyoursoncametomefortwoyears—thatis,untilheistwelveyearsold. Duringthosetwoyearshewillhavetimetoseeifheisgoingtogrowtiredofitornot. Alsoduringthattime,Iwillpromisetoteachhimreadingandwritingandperhapsalittlearithmeticaswell.Whatdoyousaytothat?" "Idon'tknow,"saidmyfather,shakinghishead. "Youareverykindanditisahandsomeofferyoumake,Doctor. ButIfeelthatTommyoughttobelearningsometradebywhichhecanearnhislivinglateron." Thenmymotherspokeup.AlthoughshewasnearlyintearsattheprospectofmyleavingherhousewhileIwasstillsoyoung,shepointedouttomyfatherthatthiswasagrandchanceformetogetlearning. "NowJacob,"shesaid,"youknowthatmanyladsinthetownhavebeentotheGrammarSchooltilltheywerefourteenorfifteenyearsold. Tommycaneasilysparethesetwoyearsforhiseducation;andifhelearnsnomorethantoreadandwrite,thetimewillnotbelost. Thoughgoodnessknows,"sheadded,gettingoutherhandkerchieftocry,"thehousewillseemterriblyemptywhenhe'sgone." "Iwilltakecarethathecomestoseeyou,Mrs.Stubbins,"saidtheDoctor—"everyday,ifyoulike.Afterall,hewillnotbeveryfaraway." Well,atlengthmyfathergavein;anditwasagreedthatIwastolivewiththeDoctorandworkforhimfortwoyearsinexchangeforlearningtoreadandwriteandformyboardandlodging. "Ofcourse,"addedtheDoctor,"whileIhavemoneyIwillkeepTommyinclothesaswell.Butmoneyisaveryirregularthingwithme;sometimesIhavesome,andthensometimesIhaven't." "Youareverygood,Doctor,"saidmymother,dryinghertears."ItseemstomethatTommyisaveryfortunateboy." Andthen,thoughtless,selfishlittleimpthatIwas,IleanedoverandwhisperedintheDoctor'sear, "Pleasedon'tforgettosaysomethingaboutthevoyages." "Oh,bytheway,"saidJohnDolittle,"ofcourseoccasionallymyworkrequiresmetotravel.Youwillhavenoobjection,Itakeit,toyourson'scomingwithme?" Mypoormotherlookedupsharply,moreunhappyandanxiousthaneveratthisnewturn;whileIstoodbehindtheDoctor'schair,myheartthumpingwithexcitement,waitingformyfather'sanswer. "No,"hesaidslowlyafterawhile."IfweagreetotheotherarrangementIdon'tseethatwe'vetherighttomakeanyobjectiontothat." Well,theresurelywasneverahappierboyintheworldthanIwasatthatmoment.Myheadwasintheclouds.Itrodonair. Icouldscarcelykeepfromdancingroundtheparlor. Atlastthedreamofmylifewastocometrue! AtlastIwastobegivenachancetoseekmyfortune,tohaveadventures! ForIknewperfectlywellthatitwasnowalmosttimefortheDoctortostartuponanothervoyage. Polynesiahadtoldmethathehardlyeverstayedathomeformorethansixmonthsatastretch. Thereforehewouldbesurelygoingagainwithinafortnight. AndI—I,TommyStubbins,wouldgowithhim!Justtothinkofit! —tocrosstheSea,towalkonforeignshores,toroamtheWorld! 
