"Only eight or ten months. Mother says he appears well now, but she would rather wait to see how he holds out. She is afraid that his early vicious habits will be too strong for his present good purpose."
"Where is he now?" inquired Nat, becoming intensely interested in the case. "Is he not coming around to see us?"
"Yes; he will go about some to-day, and go home to-morrow."
Ben called upon many of his old acquaintances that day, so that they had an opportunity of seeing him, and all were as much surprised as Frank at the change in his appearance. His visit created quite a sensation in a circle of families, where he was particularly known in his early boyhood, and he was the occasion of many remarks after his departure. Hereafter we shall see what kind of a man he made.
Before the young people had fairly recovered from the surprise occasioned by Ben's visit, news came that Daniel Webster was to speak in Faneuil Hall, Boston, on a certain evening.
"I shall go to hear him," said Nat, as soon as he heard of it. "Will you go, Charlie?"
"How will you go?" asked Charlie.
"With my own team, of course," answered Nat, jestingly.
"And walk home after the address?"
"Certainly; there is no other way for we poor fellows to do. I never heard Daniel Webster speak, and I shall hear him if it is a possible thing. Will you go?"