"That's natural enough.

When I was a youngster I was forever teasin' to go to sea.

I thought my dad was meaner than a spiled herrin' to keep on sayin' no when I said yes.

But when he did say yes and I climbed aboard the stagecoach to start for Boston, where my ship was, I never was more homesick in my life.

I was later on, though--homesick and other kinds." They were standing on the station platform at Wellmouth Centre, and the train which was taking Emily back to South Middleboro was a rapidly moving, smoking blur in the distance.