Hitherto I had been silent, but when this terrible fate was presented to me I spoke out. The very idea of a warehouse was abhorrent to me.
"My dear Julius, you must learn obedience. We have been educating you for the Royal Navy, you have failed, and"—
"For no fault of his own," interrupted mother quickly.
"My dear, did I say it was for any fault of his? I wish you would not introduce irrelevant remarks. He has failed to satisfy the examiners in eyesight, so"—
"I don't believe it!" exclaimed mother firmly.
My stepfather made no reply. He silently folded the report in its official folds, finished his coffee,—still in silence,—rose quietly, and deliberately left the room.
"Where are you going, Mark?" asked my mother anxiously.
"To my study, until you have settled the question with the Admiralty," he answered satirically, as he closed the door.
We were silent for a while. At length I said timidly—
"Mother, must I go to Granding's? I hate it! Why can't I go to sea?"