e those swells of officers."

Clyde positively refused to leave the ship, though his mother, almost
in tears, begged him to accompany her.

"My son won't go with me," said she, as Mr. Lowington came towards her
to ascertain the cause of their delay.

"If you desire, madam, the boatswain will put him into the boat for
you," replied the principal.

"Put me into the boat!" exclaimed the indignant youth. "I should be
glad to see him do it!"

"Should you? Peaks!"

"On deck, sir," replied the big boatswain, touching his cap to the
principal.

"Pray, don't, sir--don't!" begged the lady. "Clyde wants to go to sea
in your ship."

"O, does he, indeed!" exclaimed the principal. "We have a vacant
place, and he can be accommodated."

The fond mother's heart sank at this announcement. Mr. Lowington,
though his experience with students of this description had been far
from satisfactory, felt that his duty to humanity required him to take
this boy, who was evidently on the high road to ruin through the weak
indulgence of his mother.

CHAPTER VI.

A DAY AT CHRISTIANSAND.

"But, madam, your steamer seems to be on the point of starting,"
suggested Mr. Lowington, as the Orlando rang her bell, and whistled
violently.

"I cannot help it," replied the lady, apparently taking no notice of
the steamer. "I came over here on a pleasure excursion, and now I feel
as though I had lost my son."

"Lost him, madam! We intend to save him," laughed Mr. Lowington. "But
we have no claim upon him. If you desire to leave in the steamer, the
boatswain shall put the boy on board whether he is willing or not."

"No, no; that would be very, _very_ harsh. Let the steamer go. This
matter is of vastly more consequence than going to Christiania.
James," she added, turning to the man in livery, "you will take the
boat, get our baggage from the steamer, and take it to the hotel on
shore."

"Yes, mem," replied James, as he very deliberately went over the side
into the boat.

"This will be a sad day to me, sir," continued Mrs. Blacklock, as she
glanced at her son, who was whistling an air from the last opera, as
indifferent as though his mother had been at peace in her own
drawing-room.

"I beg to repeat, madam, that I have not the slightest wish to take
your son into this institution."

"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