Mrs. Codman replied in the affirmative.
"You ought to see his miniature, papa. He is very handsome."
"And you have lost your heart to him. Perhaps he may not return the compliment."
"I hope he will," said the young lady.
"Perhaps Mrs. Codman will allow me to look at the miniature of my future son-in-law," said Mr. Bowman, not guessing the mother's sorrow and its cause.
While Mrs. Codman was absent from the room, Bert gave her father a brief account of Charlie's disappearance.
"You must pardon me, Mrs. Codman," said Mr. Bowman, in a tone of feeling, when she had returned, "for speaking in the lively tone I did. I little guessed the anxiety you must feel about your son. Is this the miniature?"
"A very attractive face!" he said. "I don't wonder at Bert's taking a fancy to it."
"I cannot wonder at your sorrow in losing, even for a time, such a boy as this face seems to indicate," he added.
"You think there is a chance of his coming back to me?" asked Mrs. Codman, anxiously.