Mrs. Duncan, whose voice was almost drowned by
the noise of the waves as they beat against the boat.

Paul's mother seemed to think she had said enough, for her son was
generally a very obedient boy, and she turned to walk up the bluff
towards the house. But she knew enough about the management of a boat to
perceive that, in this instance, her order was not obeyed.

"Come ashore right off, Paul," she repeated with an emphasis that was
calculated to make an impression upon the rebellious party.

"Do you want me, mother?" asked Paul, as he put the boat about, and
brought her upon the home tack.

"No, I don't want you; but it blows too hard for you to be out there.
You'll capsize, as true as you're alive," replied Mrs. Duncan; and
seeing the boat headed towards the shore, she hastened home.

"Are you going to back out, Paul?" demanded Thomas, as the boat came
about.

"My mother won't let me go," replied Paul, rather sheepishly, for he was
not proof against the derision of his companion.

"Won't let you go!" sneered Thomas.

"You heard what she said."

"I did; my mother would no more dare to say as much as that to me than
she would dare to cut my head off. She knows her place better."

Paul was not a little shocked by this unfeeling speech, and could not
help seeing that Thomas had not much regard for his mother. For his own
part, he loved his mother very much, though he was not exactly willing
to confess the fact to a boy who entertained such opinions as those of
Thomas Nettle. He had been accustomed to obey his mother for the respect
and love he bore her, and it had never before occurred to him that she
overstepped the bounds of reason and propriety in presuming to command
him. Paul had the reputation of being a good boy, both at home and
among the neighbors; but it must not be inferred that he was perfect,
that he never disobeyed his father and mother,--though the instances
were very rare,--or that he never did what he knew to be wrong. He had
his faults and his weaknesses; but for the present I shall let my young
reader discover them from what he says and what he does. He was
disturbed by the derision of his friend, no less than by his impudent
self-possession. He even asked himself why he should be tied to his
mother's apron string, as Thomas expressed the subjection of the child
to the parent. He was only a year younger than his companion, and he
began to question whether it was not about time for him to as