"Not exactly. We are on the third floor." "Come, Percy, here's a table. Let us have a game." They began to play, and Ben sat down in a comfortable arm-chair and looked on. Though neither of the boys was an expert, they played a fair game, and Ben was interested in watching it. "It's wonderful how he's improved," thought Clarence. "When I saw him in pa's office I thought he was awkward and gawky; now he looks just like one of us. He's had great luck in falling in with this Major Grafton. Really, I think we can afford to recognize him as a relation." When the boys had played a couple of games, they prepared to go. "By the way, Ben," said Clarence, "the governor told me to invite you to dinner on Sunday. Have you any other engagement?" "Not that I know of. I will come if I can." "That's right. Ta-ta, old fellow." "He treats me a good deal better than he did when we first met," thought Ben. "There's a great deal of virtue in good clothes, I expect." Ben was asleep before Major Grafton came home. In the morning, when he awoke, he found that the major was already dressing. "By the way, Philip," said his employer, quietly, "we sail for Europe this afternoon at three." "Sail for Europe!" ejaculated Ben, overwhelmed with surprise. "Yes. See that your trunk is packed by eleven." CHAPTER XIII. A FAREWELL CALL. Ben was startled by Major Grafton's abrupt proposal. To go to Europe would be delightful, he admitted to himself, but to start at a few hours' notice was naturally exciting. What would his mother and sister say? "I suppose there isn't time for me to go home and see my mother before sailing?" he ventured to say, interrogatively. "As we are to sail at three o'clock this afternoon, you can judge for yourself about that," said the major, coolly. "Don't you want to go?" "Oh, yes, sir. There is nothing I should like better. I should like to have said good-by to my mother, but----" "Unfortunately, you can't. I am glad you take so sensible a view of the matter. I will depend on you to be ready." "How long shall we probably be gone?" asked Ben. "I can tell you better some weeks hence, Philip. By the way," he added, after a moment's thought, "if any letters should come here addressed to you, don't open them till I come back." Ben looked at the major in surprise. Why should he not open any letters that came for him? He was not likely, he thought, to receive any except from Sunderland. "I will explain," continued the major. "There are some people in the city that are continually writing begging letters to me. They use every method to annoy me, and might go so far as to write to you and ask your intercession." "I understand," said Ben, unsuspiciously. "I thought you would," returned the major, evidently relieved. "Of course if you get any letter from home you will open that." "Thank you, sir."