n exclaimed Aunt Deb; "eat your luncheon, and don't
talk nonsense."

As I was very hungry, I obeyed her, but at first I felt as if the food I
put in my mouth would choke me. Ultimately, however, I was able to get
on as well as usual. Aunt Deb's behaviour to me during the next few
days did not contribute to reconcile me to my proposed lot. She kept me
working at writing and adding up long columns of figures, not failing to
scold me when I made mistakes. I pictured to myself my future dreary
life--to have to sit in a dull office all day, and then to have to come
home with no other society than that of Mr Butterfield and Aunt Deb as
long as she remained at Liverpool. I knew nobody at Liverpool, and did
not see how I was to form any acquaintances of my own. After luncheon,
on Saturday, Aunt Deb, in consideration, she said, of my diligence,
allowed me to go and take a walk by myself, as she felt indisposed to
leave the house. I very naturally wandered down to the docks to have a
look at the "Emu" before she sailed, and to inspect any other vessels
that might take my fancy. I much missed my cutter yacht, as I found
there existed places where I could have sailed her. I had spent some
time in walking about, when I again got back to the quay where the "Emu"
was moored. As I was pacing to and fro, I thought of the high stool in
the dark corner of Mr Butterfield's office; the dreary, dreary days I
was doomed to sit there; the dull, dull evenings in the society of Aunt
Deb and her cousin, and the not more lively Sundays, with attendances at
three services, for Aunt Deb was very strict in this respect. Hapless
fate, with nothing better to expect than a head clerkship. The business
I knew I should detest. Then I thought of the free life on the ocean,
the strange lands I should visit, the curious people I should see, and
the liberty I fancied I should enjoy.

As I had had a fair education, and knew that I could master navigation,
I expected without difficulty to work my way up till I became an
officer, and then to have the command of such a fine ship myself, just
such a one as the "Emu." But how was I to get to sea? Mr Butterfield
positively refused to obtain an appointment for me without the consent
of Aunt Deb and that of my father, and I was confident such would not be
given. Would the captain take me without further introduction, if I
should offer myself? I had sense enough to know that that was very
unlikely.