I know that if
my mother knows what goes on here, it would grieve her for me to take
such a step."
"Suppose your stepfather should consent to your leaving home?"
"Then I would do so gladly. I am willing to work and I think I could
make a living in some way."
"Why not ask him?"
Frank's face brightened.
"Thank you for the hint, Herbert," he said. "I will think of it, and I
may act upon it."
Frank was naturally self-reliant and energetic. He was not disposed to
shrink from the duties of life, but was ready to go forth to meet them.
The idea which Herbert had suggested commended itself to him the more he
thought of it.
In spite, therefore, of the news which he had received about Ajax, he
resumed his cheerfulness, considerably to the surprise of Mark, whose
natural suspicion led him to conjecture that Frank had some plan in view
to circumvent his father.
"If he has, he'd better give it up," reflected Mark. "The old man's as
sly as a fox. A raw boy like Frank can't get the better of him."
At the close of the week, both the boys went home. They were on board
the same train and the same car, but did not sit together. When they
reached the house, Mr.
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