"I may persuade her to go some time," said Mr. Craven, with a glance at his wife, "Just now it would be a little inconvenient for me to leave my business."
"I fancy this young man would like to go," said Sharpley, turning to Frank.
"Indeed I should," said Frank, eagerly. "There is nothing in the world I should like better."
"Come, I have an idea to propose," said Sharpley, as if it had struck him; "if you'll let him go with me, I will look after him, and at the end of three months, or any other period you may name, I will put him on board a steamer bound for New York. It will do him an immense deal of good."
Mrs. Craven was startled by the suddenness of the proposal.
"How could he come home alone?" she said.
"He couldn't leave the steamer till it reached New York, and I am sure he could find his way home from there, or you could meet him at the steamer."
"Oh, mother, let me go!" said Frank, all on fire with the idea.
"It would seem lonely without you, Frank."