Before that, we meant my eldest to
follow my own profession; but when he seemed to take to the soil so
kindly, I thought, after all, he might make the happier squire for
never having learnt the smell of salt water, nor the spirit of
enterprise; but if it were done already, the first choice is due to
him. You are sure?"
"Ask the girls."
He leant back and shouted out the question, "Sue! do you know whether
Sam wishes to go to sea?"
"There's nothing he ever wished so much," was the answer.
"Then why didn't he say so?"
"Because he thought it would be no use," screamed Susan back.
"No use! why?"
"Because Hal says Admiral Penrose promised him. O Papa! are you
going to take Sam?"
"Oh dear! we can't get on without him!" sighed Elizabeth.
"Are you sure he would like it?" said her father. "I thought he
never cared to hear of the sea."
"He can't bear to talk of it, because it makes him so sorry," said
Susan.
"And," cried Bessie, "he burnt his dear little ship, the Victory,
because he couldn't bear to look at it after you said THAT, Papa."
"After I said what?"
"That he was not smart enough to learn the ropes.
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