Betty produced a card from her innermost pocket, and showed it to Mr. Pym: who carefully copied down the address. That he was on his way to Timberdale Rectory, was _not_ a ruse. He went on there through the Ravine at the top of his speed, and asked for Captain Tanerton. "Have got orders to join ship, sir, and am going up this morning. Any commands?" "To join what ship?" questioned Jack. "The _Rose of Delhi_. She is beginning to load." Jack paused. "Of course you must go up, as you are sent for. But I don't think you will go out in the _Rose of Delhi_, Mr. Pym. I should recommend you to look out for another ship." "Time enough for that, Captain Tanerton, when I get my discharge from the _Rose of Delhi_: I have not got it yet," returned Pym, who seemed to take a private delight in thwarting his captain. "Well, I shall be in London myself shortly, and will see about things," spoke Jack. "Any commands, sir?" "Not at present." Taking his leave of Colonel and Mrs. Letsom, and thanking them for their hospitality, Edward Pym departed for London by an afternoon train. He left his promises and vows to the young Letsoms, boys and girls, to come down again at the close of the next voyage, little dreaming, poor ill-fated young man, that he would never go upon another. Captain Tanerton wrote at once to head-quarters in Liverpool, saying he did not wish to retain Pym as chief mate, and would like another one to be appointed. Strolling back to Timberdale Rectory from posting the letter at Salmon's, John Tanerton fell into a brown study. A curious feeling, against taking Pym out again, lay within him; like an instinct, it seemed; a prevision of warning. Jack was fully conscious of it, though he knew not why it should be there. It was a great deal stronger than could have been prompted by his disapprobation of the man's carelessness in his duties on board. "I'll go up to London to-morrow," he decided. "Best to do so. Pym means to sail in the _Rose of Delhi_ if he can; just, I expect, because he sees I don't wish him to: the man's nature is as contrary as two sticks. I'll not have him again at any price. Yes, I must go up to-morrow." "L'homme propose"--we know the proverb. Very much to Jack's surprise, his wife arrived that evening at the Rectory from Liverpool, with her eldest child, Polly. Therefore, Jack did not start for London on the morrow; it would not have been at all polite. He went up the following week. His first visit was to Eastcheap, in which bustling quarter stood the office of Mr. James Freeman, the ship's broker. After talking a bit about the ship and her cargo, Jack spoke of Pym. "Has a first officer been appointed in Pym's place?" "No," said Mr. Freeman. "Pym goes out with you again." "I told you I did not wish to take Pym again," cried Jack. "You said something about it, I know, and we thought of putting in the mate from the _Star of Lahore_; but he wants to keep to his own vessel." "I won't take Pym."