Dick, who was gifted with far-reaching sight, affirmed he could see the sails of the fishing-smacks, but none of the others could; still they all clapped their hands, and sang in a wild chorus: "The sea! the sea! the open sea! The blue, the fresh, the ever-free!" "I mean to be a sailor," said Oscar, when the singing ended. Silence reigned on the old Tor, save for the blustering wind, which played havoc with the girls' hair, and clutched at all their hats. "Oh, Oscar! and uncle intends you to be a farmer!" cried Inna, her tongue running away with her better judgment, which would have whispered her to think twice before she spoke once. But her heart was stirred with pity for Oscar, and for her uncle, knowing what Mrs. Grant had said about the boy's future. "And so Mother Peggy has been whispering that into your ear," was the scoffing reply. "Mrs. Grant told me so; but I don't know that there was any whispering about it," returned the little girl. "Well, she told you what'll never be. I mean to be a sailor, so there!" "To be a farmer is no bad berth," said sensible Dick. "Oh yes, for them who take to it; but that's not I. I mean to be a sailor, like my father before me." "Oh! but, Oscar, what will uncle say?" cried Inna. "Oh, he'll get over it. Every boy has a right to choose his own profession, and he knows it." "Yes; but 'tisn't a right every boy goes in for. I meant to be a farmer, and my father set his heel upon that notion, and said I must be a doctor," said Dick. "Well?" and Oscar waited to hear more. "I shall be a doctor; no good comes of a boy going on trying to go against his father's way or will." "No," said the other, somewhat taken aback; "a father is different from an uncle." "Yes," was Dick's retort. "I suppose an uncle would expect a little more yielding of number one to number two." "Why?" growled Oscar, not liking Dick's views of the case. "Because of gratitude. I suppose gratitude ought to have a voice with a fellow about his father's wishes; but it ought to have two voices with those of an uncle playing a father's part." "Well, an uncle's wish ought not to make one wreck one's life; and that's what I shall do if I am a farmer." "Phew! you'd be more likely to be wrecked as a sailor now," replied Dick loftily. "Well, I mean to stand up for my rights," contended Oscar. "Better not, if you value your peace of mind. Since I've given up youth's charming dream of farming--ha! how the words rhyme!--I've been as happy as a peg-top," answered Dick. The girls smiled. "Oh yes," grumbled Oscar, "well enough for you to laugh. You girls never have to choose or wish--you always have all you want."