"He said he didn't want to be a grocer when he grew up," she said. "He said he loved the sea, and would rather be a sailor, so now his father says if he'll stay at home and help in the store until he's a bit older, he'll consent to his becoming a sailor, if he still thinks he'd like a sailor's life."
The pronouns were a bit confused, but Rose and Polly understood.
They hardly knew whether to be sorry for John or his father.
"It seems hard for John to want to go and leave his father," Polly said, "and it's hard that John can't be a sailor boy if he wants to."
"And you can't know which is the harder," said Sprite.
"Well, I wouldn't think any boy would run away from home when he knew that his father and mother would grieve for him," Rose said.
"I'd think any boy would if he wanted to!" said a sharp voice.
It was Max Deland who had entered the garden, and now, with a defiant air, stood staring at the group of playmates, as if daring them to disagree with him.
His cap was tilted at a saucy angle, his hands were thrust into his pockets, and his feet, wide apart, were firmly braced.
He looked as if ready to quarrel with anyone who chanced to differ with him.