“As well as can be expected, Mark. Father’s foot is not as strong as it might be. How did you like your trip?”
“Oh, it was fine, Frank. But let me tell you that a life on shipboard is no picnic.”
“I believe you.”
“If a boy wants to run away to sea, let him do it. One good long trip on the ocean will cure him of his foolishness.”
“What do you expect to do next, Mark?”
“Go into business—if I can get in. You seem to be making a success of selling books.”
“Yes. Perhaps you can sell books, too.”
“Well, I could try it. I used to think I’d take hold of the flour and feed business with father. But now he has given that up, so I’ll have to try something else.”
“I’ll put you in the way of selling books, and you can try your luck at it,” answered Frank.
“Perhaps I could sell some among the shipping people. They like to do business with somebody who has followed the sea.”