“Why, Perry, my boy, you’re mad,” said the colonel. “If the journey is so risky that Captain Norton wishes me to leave you here, do you think it likely that he will let his son go?”
“Perhaps he would with you, father. He trusts you.”
“Not to that extent.”
“Try him, father. It would be so nice to have Cil with us.”
“Nice for you, sir—double responsibility for me.”
“You wouldn’t mind that, father, and we would help you so.”
“Yes, nice lot of help I should get from you.”
“You don’t know, father; but, I say, you will ask him?”
“Ask him yourself, sir,” said the colonel firmly; “here he is.”
For at that moment steps were heard in the veranda, and Captain Norton appeared.