I observed the tears run down his face very plentifully, especially when he spoke of mybrother who was killed: and that when he spoke of myhaving leisure to repent, and none to assist me, he was somoved that he broke off the discourse, and told me hisheart was so full he could say no more to me. I was sincerely affected with this discourse, and, indeed,who could be otherwise? and I resolved not to think ofgoing abroad any more, but to settle at home according tomy father’s desire. But alas! a few days wore it all off; and,in short, to prevent any of my father’s furtherimportunities, in a few weeks after I resolved to run quiteaway from him. However, I did not act quite so hastily asthe first heat of my resolution prompted; but I took mymother at a time when I thought her a little more pleasantthan ordinary, and told her that my thoughts were soentirely bent upon seeing the world that I should neversettle to anything with resolution enough to go throughwith it, and my father had better give me his consent thanforce me to go without it; that I was now eighteen yearsold, which was too late to go apprentice to a trade or clerkto an attorney; that I was sure if I did I should never serveout my time, but I should certainly run away from mymaster before my time was out, and go to sea; and if shewould speak to my father to let me go one voyage abroad,if I came home again, and did not like it, I would go nomore; and I would promise, by a double diligence, torecover the time that I had lost.