Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/258

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THE NAVAL OFFICER.

were harshly refused, and I was lectured more as a-child than as a lad of eighteen, who had seen much of the world.

Coldness on his part, was met by a spirit of resistance on mine. Pride came in to my assistance. .A dispute arose one evening, at the finale of which I gave him to understand that if I could not live quietly under his roof, I would quit it. He calmly recommended me to do so. Little supposing that I should have taken his advice, I left the room, banging the door after me, packed up a few changes of linen, and took my departure, unperceived by 'any one, with my bundle on my shoulder, and about sixteen shillings in my pocket.

Here was great mismanagement on the part of my father, and still greater on mine. He was anxious to get me afloat again, and I had no sort of objection to going; but his impatience and my pride spoiled all. Reflection soon came to me, but came too late. Night was