The first joyous days of getting home had passed over, and New-Year's Day come and gone, before he broached the subject.  From his love and kind heart, he would not before mar my boyish happiness.  He then, summoning me into his study, spoke seriously to me about my past conduct.  I frankly owned my fault, and confessed to him the true cause of my idleness.  From his answer I found, to my very great satisfaction, that Captain Frankland had already talked to him about my wish to go to sea, and had expressed his readiness to take me.