"It's wonderful how he's improved," thought Clarence. "When I saw him in pa's office I thought he was awkward and gawky; now he looks just like one of us. He's had great luck in falling in with this Major Grafton. Really, I think we can afford to recognize him as a relation."
When the boys had played a couple of games, they prepared to go.
"By the way, Ben," said Clarence, "the governor told me to invite you to dinner on Sunday. Have you any other engagement?"
"Not that I know of. I will come if I can."
"That's right. Ta-ta, old fellow."
"He treats me a good deal better than he did when we first met," thought Ben. "There's a great deal of virtue in good clothes, I expect."
Ben was asleep before Major Grafton came home.
In the morning, when he awoke, he found that the major was already dressing.
"By the way, Philip," said his employer, quietly, "we sail for Europe this afternoon at three."