“He said it had been his desire from the time he could remember, especially when he felt the want of you during your last voyage.”
“Very odd; how reserved some boys are! I declare I was vexed that it had gone out of his head; though I thought it might be for the best. You know I was not born to this place. I never dreamt of it till my poor brother Sam’s little boy went off in a fever six years ago, and we had to settle down here. 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.