"Then——." He stopped short, a deep blush spread over his features; he caught his breath, and then, as if hoping that the answer would be in the negative, exclaimed:
"Do you mean me?"
"Yes, I do mean just you; and nobody else, Frank."
Frank threw himself back in his chair with a despairing gesture, saying:
"Oh, I could never do it, Mr. Lloyd. I know I never could."
Mr. Lloyd looked at him with tender sympathy, and laying his hand upon his knee, said, gently:
"Do you remember the motto, Frank: 'Quit you like men, be strong'?"
Frank heaved a heavy sigh. "But how can I go about it, Mr. Lloyd?" he asked.
Mr. Lloyd thought a moment.
"I have an idea, Frank," he said, presently. "Suppose you were to start family prayer in the mornings. I believe it would be the means of doing your father good."