"What do you think that Franklin would now say to you?"
"I can't tell what he would say."
"You can, but you do not choose to."
"No, I cannot," said the boy. He stamped insolently with his foot, and his voice was choked with tears.
"I have a better opinion of you than you have of yourself," said Eric, taking hold of the boy's chin. "Look at me, don't look down to the earth, don't be out of humor."
Roland's countenance was unmoved, and the tears stood motionless in his eyes. Eric continued,—
"Is there any good thing in the world that I would not like to give you?"
"No; but-—-"
"Well, but what? Go on."
"Ah, I don't know any. And yet—yet—do go for my sake, go with us; I could not take pleasure if you were not with us—I there, and you here alone."