"No, thank you, sir."
"Well, perhaps you are right," said his stepfather, considerably
relieved.
"What parts of Europe do you expect to visit?" asked Frank.
"We shall visit England, France, the Rhine, Switzerland, and perhaps
Italy."
"I hope you will enjoy it."
"Thank you; I think we shall."
Frank checked a sigh. It was certainly tantalizing. If he could travel
with congenial friends, he felt that he would very much enjoy such a
trip; but with Mark in the party there would be little pleasure for him.
"We are staying at the St. Nicholas Hotel," said Mr. Manning. "I would
invite you to come and dine with us, but I have an engagement first, and
don't know when we shall dine."
"Thank you, all the same," said Frank.
They had reached the New York side, and were walking toward Broadway. It
was necessary for Frank to go to the tea store, and he took leave of his
stepfather and Mark, again wishing them a pleasant voyage.
"I hate that boy!" said Mark, as they walked away.
"You should not indulge in any such disagreeable feelings, Mark," said
his father.
"Don't you hate him?"
"Certainly not."
"One would think by your soft manner that you loved him," said Mark, who
was not noted for the respect with which he treated his father.
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