"You came here unaccustomed to regular work, but during the last few months you have differed but little from a really industrious counting-house clerk. Hence my letter to your father."
Fink rose, and the merchant accompanied him to the door, saying, "Your departure will be a great loss to one of our friends."
Fink abruptly stopped, and said, "Let him go with me to America. He is well fitted to make his fortune there."
"Have you spoken to him on the subject?"
"I have not."
"Then I may state my opinion unreservedly. Wohlfart is young, and I believe the defined and regular work of a house like this very desirable discipline for him for some years to come. Meanwhile, I have no right to sway his decision. I shall be sorry to lose him, but if he thinks he will make his fortune more rapidly with you, I have no objection to make."
"If you will allow me, I will ask him at once," said Fink.
Then calling Anton into the office, he went on to say, "Anton, I have requested Mr. Schröter to allow you to accompany me. It will be a great point to me to have you with me. You know how much attached to you I am; we will share my new career, and get on gloriously, and you shall fix your own conditions. Mr. Schröter leaves you to decide."
Anton stood for a moment thoughtful and perplexed; the future so suddenly opened out to him looked fair and promising, but he soon collected himself, and, turning to the principal, inquired, "Is it your opinion that I should do right to go?"
"I can not say it is, dear Wohlfart," was the merchant's grave reply.