"Sail for Europe!" ejaculated Ben, overwhelmed with surprise.
"Yes. See that your trunk is packed by eleven."
CHAPTER XIII.
A Farewell Call.
Ben was startled by Major Grafton's abrupt proposal. To go to Europe would be delightful, he admitted to himself, but to start at a few hours' notice was naturally exciting. What would his mother and sister say?
"I suppose there isn't time for me to go home and see my mother before sailing?" he ventured to say, interrogatively.
"As we are to sail at three o'clock this afternoon, you can judge for yourself about that," said the major, coolly. "Don't you want to go?"
"Oh, yes, sir. There is nothing I should like better. I should like to have said good-by to my mother, but——"
"Unfortunately, you can't. I am glad you take so sensible a view of the matter. I will depend on you to be ready."