I thanked Captain Frankland over and over again for his kindness, and certainly did not think that there was a possibility of my changing my inclinations.  So he went away, much to my regret, and I fancied that he had not mentioned our conversation to my father.  We all returned to school, except our eldest brother, who went to college.  I no longer enjoyed school as I once did--I was looked upon as having become very idle.  My mind, however, was not idle, I know, for I was continually thinking over the idea which had got possession of it.  By allowing my thoughts to rest on that idea, and that alone, the desire increased till I persuaded myself that the only life I could possibly lead with satisfaction was that of a life at sea.  All this time the curious thing was, that of the sea itself I practically knew nothing.  Born and bred in an inland county, my eyes had actually never rested on the wide ocean.  Still, I had formed a notion of what it was like; and I fancied that a sailor was always wandering about from one wild country to another, and going through a rapid succession of wonderful adventures. I forgot all about those long voyages when ships are weeks and weeks together out of sight of land, and the many weary and often anxious hours which a seaman has to pass away; nor did I consider that he has frequently the same voyage to make over and over again, the same lands to visit, and the same people to see.  However, though I looked with no little pleasure on the idea of becoming a sailor, I had still greater satisfaction in the anticipation of visiting strange and far-distant lands, in meeting with adventures, and in becoming acquainted with the various tribes of the human race.