t was 'business'? His Papa was a wonderfully good man of business,
his Mamma had often told him so--but he should never be one. It was
hopeless, and very awful, for people were continually telling him that he
would have to earn his own living. No doubt, but how--considering how
stupid, idle, ignorant, self-indulgent, and physically puny he was? All
grown-up people were clever, except servants--and even these were
cleverer than ever he should be. Oh, why, why, why, could not people be
born into the world as grown-up persons? Then he thought of Casabianca.
He had been examined in that poem by his father not long before. 'When
only would he leave his position? To whom did he call? Did he get an
answer? Why? How many times did he call upon his father? What happened
to him? What was the noblest life that perished there? Do you think so?
Why do you think so?' And all the rest of it. Of course he thought
Casabianca's was the noblest life that perished there; there could be no
two opinions about that; it never occurred to him that the moral of the
poem was that young people cannot begin too soon to exercise discretion
in the obedience they pay to their Papa and Mamma. Oh, no! the only
thought in his mind was that he should never, never have been like
Casabianca, and that Casabianca would have despised him so much, if he
could have known him, that he would not have condescended to speak to
him. There was nobody else in the ship worth reckoning at all: it did
not matter how much they were blown up. Mrs Hemans knew them all and
they were a very indifferent lot. Besides Casabianca was so good-looking
and came of such a good family."

And thus his small mind kept wandering on till he could follow it no
longer, and again went off into a doze.

CHAPTER XXX

Next morning Theobald and Christina arose feeling a little tired from
their journey, but happy in that best of all happiness, the approbation
of their consciences. It would be their boy's fault henceforth if he
were not good, and as prosperous as it was at all desirable that he
should be. What more could parents do than they had done? The answer
"Nothing" will rise as readily to the lips of the reader as to those of
Theobald and Christina themselves.

A few days later the parents were gratified at receiving the following
letter from their son--

"My Dear Mamma,--I am very well. Dr Skinner made me do about the
horse free and exulting roamin