He had never cared to inform himself of what was passing in the world, and the newspapers had always seemed to him very dull reading.
Now, however, he wished he knew a little more; but he told himself that he should quickly pick up everything in London.

His heart beat at the thought of seeing that wonderful city; and although he carelessly promised his mother not to linger there long, he was by no means sure that he would not make a good stay, and learn the fashions of the gay world before he crossed the sea.
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.