"What is it, Ernest?" asked Frank. "Come back. I am afraid."
"Oh, it is nothing," answered Ernest, with studied indifference. "It isn't anything you would care to see."
The little boy accepted this assurance, for he did not feel the interest that excited Ernest.
"Let us go back," he said, as he resumed his clasp of Ernest's hand.
"Yes, we will go back. Have you ever been as far as this before?"
"No."
"Then we had better not say anything about it. Your papa might not like it."
"All right, Ernest. Will you read to me when you go back?"
"Yes, Frank."
Ernest was glad to comply with the little boy's request, as he thought he might in this way put the thoughts of their exploration out of his mind.