"I will go out for a walk, to think it all over, if you don't mind, mother; I will come in again by supper time," said the boy.
"Do, dear; it is not a plan that should be carried out in a hurry," said she. And Ralph took up his cap and went out.
He strolled aimlessly up one street, down another, his hands in his pockets and eyes fixed on the ground; then, with sudden determination, he changed his purposeless steps towards the town, and steadily pursued his road to meet his uncle.
So rapidly did he walk now, that he reached the lodging to which Captain Rogers always repaired when on shore just as he was emerging from the door.
"Halloa, my son!" called out the sailor in Cornish accents, "whither so fast?"
"I came to meet you, uncle. Mother has been telling me of your plan for me, and I wanted to talk to you about it while we could be alone."
"Ay, that's right. Men can settle things between themselves better than when there is a lot of soft-hearted women by, to cry over the Lord knows what. You are 'most a man now, Ralph. How you have grown since I've been away! How old are you now?"
"Fifteen, uncle. Fifteen and a half."
"Too old to be lopping about at your mother's apron strings. Old enough to be of some use and good, are you not?"