And now I'm going home to see my mother." "How long since you've seen her ?" asked Marco.
"O, it's four years since I ran away." Here the sailor began to speak in rather a lower tone than he had done before, so that Marco only could hear.

This was not difficult, as the other passengers were at this time engaged in conversation.
"I ran away," continued the sailor, "and went to sea about four years ago." "What made you run away ?" asked Marco.
"O, I didn't want to stay at home and be abused.

My father used to abuse me; but my mother took my part, and now I want to go and see her." "And to see your father too," said Marco.
"No," said the sailor.

"I don't care for him.

I hope he's gone off somewhere.