"It seems an age since Ben left home," said Mrs. Baker, with a little sigh. "I miss him dreadfully, mother," said Alice. "Why need he go away?" "I can't blame him, Alice, though I am very sorry to have him go," said Mrs. Baker. "He is ambitious----" "What does that mean?" asked Alice, puzzled. "It means that he is anxious to get on in the world--to make money. It is a natural feeling for a boy." "He used to earn money here at home," said Alice. "Only a little. No doubt he can do better in New York, if he can get a chance. If his uncle will only help him----" "I should think he might, mother. Ben is a good boy." "There is none better," assented his mother, fondly; "but strangers may not know that." Just then a neighbor, driving by, paused in the road and called out to the widow, whom he saw at the open window: "Widder Baker, there's a letter for you at the post-office. 'Spect it's from Ben." "Go right over and get it, Alice," said her mother, excitedly. Alice wasn't long in performing her errand. She came back well rewarded, bringing with her two letters, one of which had arrived the day before. The first letter contained an account of his cold reception by his uncle, and on the other hand his good luck in encountering Major Grafton. As an earnest of his good fortune he enclosed three five-dollar bills. "God has been very good to us!" said the widow, with beaming face. "I can hardly believe in Ben's good fortune." "Open the other letter, mother," said Alice. Mrs. Baker did so, and, glancing over it rapidly, uttered a quiet exclamation of surprise and dismay. "Alice," she said, "Ben has sailed for Europe!" "Gone to Europe, and without bidding us good-by!" "He did not have any chance," and Mrs. Baker read Ben's letter. When she came to think it over, she felt that Ben was, on the whole, fortunate to have so good an opportunity of seeing the world; and as to dangers and risks, God would take care of him abroad as well as at home. She would have liked to have known the man who had her boy in charge. Doubtless he must have taken a fancy to Ben, or he would not have given him such a chance. CHAPTER XV. FILIPPO NOVARRO. Nicholas Walton was well pleased with the good fortune of his nephew. Though a selfish man, he was not wholly without a conscience and a heart. He had always regretted the manner in which he had possessed himself of the large sum of money which, by enabling him to take a store on Broadway, and largely extend his business, had allowed him to take a place among the foremost merchants of New York. He would have preferred to compass his own fortune without bringing ill-fortune to his brother-in-law, but if the thing had to be done again, under the same circumstances, he would probably have yielded to the same temptation.