He was quite of the opinion that, clad in a new suit of fashionable make, he could ruffle it with the best of the young bloods about town.  He was now all in a fever to be off.  He selected for his attendant a young groom, with whom he had long been more intimate than his father approved.  His mother in vain besought him to take faithful old John, or at least Peter, whom they had known from boyhood; but Tom would have nobody but young Robin, and declared that he and Robin, mounted upon Wildfire and Wildgoose—­two of the best and fleetest horses ever reared in the meadows round Gablehurst—­could distance any highwaymen who might try to stop them, or shoot them down if they could not shake them off.

For these were days when travelling was none too safe, and the transit of the heavy bag of golden guineas made an additional source of danger.  For there were highway robbers and footpads, who seemed to have a seventh sense for the scenting of gold.  It was probable that they had spies and confederates in all sorts of places, and that they were warned beforehand when travellers rode with money and valuables upon their persons.

It was, therefore, small wonder that mother and sister looked with somewhat sinking hearts at the handsome young fellow, in his workman-like, if rustic, riding dress, as he sat upon his horse at the hall door, giving a last look round him at the little crowd gathered to see him ride away.

“You will write and tell us of your safe arrival in London; and be very careful how you cross Epping Forest,” said the mother.

And young Tom answered gaily,—­“Oh, never fear for me.  Wildfire and I can ride through and ride down anything!  I will send a letter from London, but after that you must not look for anything but silence.  When men cross the seas, and live amid battles and marches, letters can scarce be written, still less safely carried.”

He stooped from his saddle, and once more kissed both mother and sister.  Then the servants and tenants crowded round, full of good wishes for a prosperous journey and a happy return; and Tom answered them with gay words of promise.  He would come back again, covered with fame and glory.  They would hear of his doings before they saw him again, and when he came back he would “take toll again of all his old playmates;” and so saying, he looked laughingly round upon the blushing girls, who had paid Tom Tufton’s toll many a time, between jest and earnest, by the lych gate.

They all admired and liked the handsome lad, even though his ways were more wild and reckless than the elders could approve.  But all declared that it would do him all the good in the world to go out and see life in other places.  It would cool his hot blood, and teach him wisdom; and, after all, lads always would be lads till manhood’s cares and lessons had tamed them.

So Tom rode away in high spirits, Robin following on Wildgoose, with the saddlebags strapped in front of him.  They did not take much with them, as Tom meant to equip himself in town, and was wearing his finest home-made suit upon the journey.  He had his precious guineas carefully secured about his person.  They were heavy, it is true, but he liked to feel the weight of them, and to know that they were safe.