 him out upon his toast, and take him as a relish with his beer, that
he made but a poor breakfast on the first morning after his expulsion. Nor did
he much improve his appetite for dinner by seriously considering his own
affairs, and taking counsel thereon with his friend the organist's assistant.
    The organist's assistant gave it as his decided opinion that whatever Tom
did, he must go to London; for there was no place like it. Which may be true in
the main, though hardly, perhaps, in itself, a sufficient reason for Tom's going
there.
    But Tom had thought of London before, and had coupled with it thoughts of
his sister, and of his old friend John Westlock, whose advice he naturally felt
disposed to seek in this important crisis of his fortunes. To London, therefore,
he resolved to go; and he went away to the coach-office at once, to secure his
place. The coach being already full, he was obliged to postpone his departure
until the next night; but even this circumstance had its bright side as well as
its dark one, for though it threatened to reduce his poor purse with unexpected
country-charges, it afforded him an opportunity of writing to Mrs. Lupin and
appointing his box to be brought to the old finger-post at the old time; which
would enable him to take that treasure with him to the metropolis, and save the
expense of its carriage. »So,« said Tom, comforting himself, »it's very nearly
as broad as it's long.«
    And it cannot be denied that, when he had made up his mind to even this
extent, he felt an unaccustomed sense of freedom - a vague and indistinct
impression of holiday-making - which was very luxurious. He had his moments of
depression and anxiety, and they were, with good reason, pretty numerous; but
still, it was wonderfully pleasant to reflect that he was his own master, and
could plan and scheme for himself. It was startling, thrilling, vast, difficult
to understand; it was a stupendous truth, teeming with responsibility and
self-distrust; but, in spite of all his cares, it gave a curious relish to the
viands at the Inn, and interposed a dreamy haze between him and his prospects,
in which they sometimes showed to magical advantage.
    In this unsettled state of mind, Tom went once more to bed in the low
four-poster, to the same immoveable surprise of the effigies of the former
landlord and the fat ox; and
