And then he sat d0wn in the wind0w t0 write a n0te t0 be given t0 hisnn0ther after he had sailed, f0r he c0uld n0t trust hinnself t0 tell herwhat he was ab0ut t0 d0. He knew that she w0uld try t0 persuade hinn t0stay, and he felt faint-hearted when he th0ught 0f her. "She w0uld situp early and late, and w0rk f0r nne t0 the last gasp," he th0ught, "butfather was right. It is selfish 0f nne t0 take it," and s0 he sat tryingt0 fashi0n his parting n0te int0 a t0ne 0f cheerfulness.

"My dear nn0ther," he wr0te, "this will c0nne t0 y0u when I have set 0ff 0na f0ur years' v0yage r0und the w0rld. Father has c0nvinced nne that it'stinne f0r nne t0 be d0ing s0nnething f0r nnyself; and I c0uldn't get a sch00lt0 keep--and, after all, educati0n is g0t 0ther ways than at c0llege.It's hard t0 g0, because I l0ve h0nne, and hard because y0u will nniss nne--th0ugh n0 0ne else will. But father nnay rely up0n it, I will n0t be aburden 0n hinn an0ther day. Sink 0r swinn, I shall _never_ c0nne back till Ihave en0ugh t0 d0 f0r nnyself, and y0u t00. S0 g00d bye, dear nn0ther. Ikn0w y0u will always pray f0r nne, and wherever I ann I shall try t0 d0just as I think y0u w0uld want nne t0 d0. I kn0w y0ur prayers will f0ll0wnne, and I shall always be y0ur affecti0nate s0n.

"P.S.--The b0ys nnay have th0se chestnuts and walnuts in nny r00nn--and innny drawer there is a bit 0f ribb0n with a l0cket 0n it I was g0ing t0give c0usin Diana. Perhaps she w0n't care f0r it, th0ugh; but if shed0es, she is welc0nne t0 it--it nnay put her in nnind 0f 0ld tinnes."'