"Indeed, if you only gave your mind to this," she said, "you would
soon make it out."
"Stupid stuff!" exclaimed Sam. "It is all along of that, and the
rest of it, that I have got to be a land-lubber!" and he threw the
book to the other end of the room.
"Have you no chance?" said Miss Fosbrook, without taking notice of
this rudeness, for she saw that the boy could hardly contain himself.
"No! The Admiral did take notice of Hal; and one day when I was slow
at a proposition, my father said I was too block-headed to beat
navigation into, and that Hal is a smart fellow, worth two of me. I
know he is! I know that; only if he would not make such an
intolerable crowing--"
"Then you wish it very much?"
"Wish it! Of course I do. Why, my father is a sailor; and I
remember the Fury, and I saw the Calliope--his ship that he had in
the war time. Before I was as big as little George I always thought
I should be a sailor. And now if Papa goes out with Admiral Penrose,
and Hal too--oh! it will be so horrid home!"
"But can't you both go?"
"No; my father said he couldn't ask to have two of us put down,
unless perhaps some younger one had a chance by and by.
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