"Of course not. (I am afraid I shall find trouble with him, thought Mr. Craven.) Of course not. You couldn't possibly find any one as much interested in your welfare as your mother."
"Certainly not, sir."
"As your step-father, I naturally feel a strong interest in you, but I do not pretend to have the same interest as your mother."
"I never expected you would, sir," said Frank, "and I don't want you to," he added, to himself.
"But your mother is not used to business, and, as I said, the responsibilities of a guardian are great."
"What do you propose, sir?" asked Frank, gazing at his step-father steadily. "Do you recommend me to change guardians—to give up my mother?"
"No, by no means. It is best that your mother should retain the guardianship."
"Then, sir, I don't quite understand what you mean."
"I mean to suggest that it would be well for another to be associated in the guardianship, who might relieve your mother of a part of her cares and responsibilities."