“But Clyde insists upon joining the ship, and what can I do?”
“You can say no, if you please.”
“You had better not say it, mother; if you do, I will run away, and go to sea in a merchant ship,” added Clyde, shaking his head.
“You hear, sir, what he says,” replied Mrs. Blacklock, with a long and deep sigh.
“That would be the very best thing in the world for a boy troubled with his complaint,” answered Mr. Lowington.
“I have no complaint; I’m not sick,” growled Clyde.
“I’m afraid you are, my boy, though you don’t know it. The most dangerous maladies often make great progress even before their existence is suspected.”
“Nothing ails me,” added Clyde.
“This seems to be a very nice ship, and you say the students are all gentlemen,” continued the lady, glancing around her at the ship and the crew. “If Clyde must go to sea—”
“I must, mother,” interposed the young gentleman, very decidedly.