"My dear Frank," said the colonel, kindly, "I feel a strong interest in your welfare, more especially because of the wrong which I do not scruple to say has been done you. What does Mr. Manning say to your plan?"
"He makes no objection," said Frank.
"Suppose he had done so?"
"I would not have run away. He is my stepfather and guardian, and I would have endured staying at home as well as I could."
"There you are right, Frank. Though I have a poor opinion of Mr. Manning, he is not likely to treat you in a manner to justify your going away without his permission. From what I have heard within the last week, I suspect that he feels relieved to have you go."
"What have you heard, sir?"
"That Mr. Manning will shortly sail for Europe, taking Mark with him."
Frank was surprised, having no suspicion of this.
"Now are you not sorry that you have decided to go out into the world to earn a living when you might have seen something of the Old World?"
"Mr. Manning would never have taken me along," answered Frank, quietly, "nor should I have enjoyed traveling with him and Mark."