I think even he would have wished me to do it rather than suffer this awful humiliation.
I had serious thoughts of running away, of going to sea, or sweeping a London crossing.

But there were difficulties in the way; the chief of them being my mother.
"You mustn't worry about it, Tommy," said she.

"Mr Girdler says it will be the best thing for you.

It will be good for you to learn some business, you know, and then in the afternoon you will find Miss Bousfield very nice and clever." "It's not the work I mind, mother," said I; "it's--it's going to a girls' school." "There's nothing very dreadful about it, I'm sure," said my mother, with a smile.

"I was at one myself once." "But," argued I, "you are only a--" No--that wouldn't quite do to one's own mother.