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supper was over （which he enjoyed very much） the table was cleared away
and the washing…up left in the kitchen…sink till the next day。 Then the
Doctor and my father started playing duets。
They got so interested in this that I began to be afraid that they would
never come to talking over my business。 But at last the Doctor said；
〃Your son tells me that he is anxious to become a naturalist。〃
And then began a long talk which lasted far into the night。 At first both
my mother and father were rather against the idea as they had been from
the beginning。 They said it was only a boyish whim； and that I would get
tired of it very soon。 But after the matter had been talked over from every
side； the Doctor turned to my father and said；
〃Well now； supposing； Mr。 Stubbins； that your son came to me for two
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yearsthat is； until he is twelve years old。 During those two years he will
have time to see if he is going to grow tired of it or not。 Also during that
time； I will promise to teach him reading and writing and perhaps a little
arithmetic as well。 What do you say to that？〃
〃I don't know；〃 said my father； shaking his head。 〃You are very kind
and it is a handsome offer you make； Doctor。 But I feel that Tommy ought
to be learning some trade by which he can earn his living later on。〃
Then my mother spoke up。 Although she was nearly in tears at the
prospect of my leaving her house while I was still so young； she pointed
out to my father that this was a grand chance for me to get learning。
〃Now Jacob；〃 she said； 〃you know that many lads in the town have
been to the Grammar School till they were fourteen or fifteen years old。
Tommy can easily spare these two years for his education； and if he learns
no more than to read and write； the time will not be lost。 Though goodness
knows；〃 she added； getting out her handkerchief to cry； 〃the house will
seem terribly empty when he's gone。〃
〃I will take care that he comes to see you； Mrs。 Stubbins；〃 said the
Doctor〃every day； if you like。 After all； he will not be very far away。〃
Well； at length my father gave in； and it was agreed that I was to live
with the Doctor and work for him for two years in exchange for learning
to read and write and for my board and lodging。
〃Of course；〃 added the Doctor； 〃while I have money I will keep
Tommy in clothes as well。 But money is a very irregular thing with me；
sometimes I have some； and then sometimes I haven't。〃
〃You are very good； Doctor；〃 said my mother； drying her tears。 〃It
seems to me that Tommy is a very fortunate boy。〃
And then； thoughtless； selfish little imp that I was； I leaned over and
whispered in the Doctor's ear；
〃Please don't forget to say something about the voyages。〃
〃Oh； by the way；〃 said John Dolittle； 〃of course occasionally my work
requires me to travel。 You will have no objection； I take it； to your son's
coming with me？〃
My poor mother looked up sharply； more unhappy and anxious than
ever at this new turn； while I stood behind the Doctor's chair； my heart
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thumping with excitement； waiting for my father's answer。
〃No；〃 he said slowly after a while。 〃If we agree to the other
arrangement I don't see that we've the right to make any objection to that。〃
Well； there surely was never a happier boy in the world than I was at
that moment。 My head was in the clouds。 I trod on air。 I could scarcely
keep from dancing round the parlor。 At last the dream of my life was to
come true！ At last I was to be given a chance to seek my fortune； to have
adventures！ For I knew perfectly well that it was now almost time for the
Doctor to start upon another voyage。 Polynesia had told me that he hardly
ever stayed at home for more than six months at a stretch。 Therefore he
would be surely going again within a fortnight。 And II； Tommy Stubbins；
would go with him！ Just to think of it！ to cross the Sea； to walk on
foreign shores； to roam the World！
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
PART TWO
THE FIRST CHAPTER
THE CREW OF 〃THE CURLEW〃
FROM that time on of course my position in the town was very
different。 I was no longer a poor cobbler's son。 I carried my nose in the air
as I went down the High Street with Jip in his gold collar at my side； and
snobbish little boys who had despised me before because I was not rich
enough to go to school now pointed me out to their friends and whispered；
〃You see him？ He's a doctor's assistantand only ten years old！〃
But their eyes would have opened still wider with wonder if they had
but known that I and the dog that was with me could talk to one another。
Two days after the Doctor had been to our house to dinner he told me
very sadly that he was afraid that he would have to give up trying to learn
the language of the shellfish at all events for the present。
〃I'm very discouraged； Stubbins； very。 I've tried the mussels and the
clams； the oysters and the whelks； cockles and scallops； seven different
kinds of crabs and all the lobster family。 I think I'll leave it for the present
and go at it again later on。〃
〃What will you turn to now？〃 I asked。
〃Well； I rather thought of going on a voyage； Stubbins。 It's quite a time
now since I've been away。 And there is a great deal of work waiting for me
abroad。〃
〃When shall we start？〃 I asked。
〃Well； first I shall have to wait till the Purple Bird…of…Paradise gets
here。 I must see if she has any message for me from Long Arrow。 She's
late。 She should have been here ten days ago。 I hope to goodness she's all
right。〃
〃Well； hadn't we better be seeing about getting a boat？〃 I said。 〃She is
sure to be here in a day or so； and there will be lots of things to do to get
ready in the mean time； won't there？〃
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〃Yes； indeed；〃 said the Doctor。 〃Suppose we go down and see your
friend Joe； the mussel…man。 He will know about boats。〃
〃I'd like to come too；〃 said Jip。