"A journey of a few days. Try and calm yourself whilst I pack a few things in my portmanteau. There, that's well!"
Sidney passed into the other room, leaving his father still struggling with the effects of his astonishment. The portmanteau must have been filled without any regard for neatness, for Sidney in a few minutes returned with it in his hands.
"Why, you should be proud of this journey of mine," he said with a forced lightness that could only have deceived his father; "think what it is to be chosen out of the whole office to undertake this business."
"It's a good sign. Yes, I see that now."
"And I shall be back sooner than you expect, perhaps. Why, you and I must not part like two silly girls, to whom the journey of a few miles is the event of a life. Now, good-bye, sir—God keep you strong and well till I come back again!"
"And you, my lad, and you, too."
"Amen. God grant it."
There was a strange earnestness in the son's voice, but the father was still too much excited to take heed.
"And now good-bye again," shaking his father's hands; "you'll stay here, sir, you'll not come down any more to-night."
"Yes, I will."