"Certn'y, Sir John. _Mister_ Jack actually made a joke,--it wasn't a good one, Sir John, but it seemed so rum for him to make a joke, and then get in a passion, that I bust out larfin, Sir John, and I couldn't help it really." Sir John looked wonderingly at his son for an explanation. "It was only a bit of petulant nonsense, father," stammered the lad. "I'm very sorry." "And pray what was the request Edward made?" "Well, father, it was about this dreadful business." "What dreadful business?" Jack was silent for a few moments, but his father's stern eyes were fixed upon him, and he stammered out-- "This going abroad." "Oh!--Well?" "He came to beg me to ask you to take him with you." "With _us_," said Sir John. "Ye-es, father, if we went." "There is no _if_ about it, Jack," said Sir John quietly; "we are going. Humph! and you wanted to go, Edward?" "Yes, sir, please, Sir John," cried the man earnestly. "I'd give anything to go." Sir John looked at the man searchingly. "Humph!" he said at last. "Well, I suppose it would sound attractive to a young man of your age." "Attractive ain't the word for it, Sir John," cried the man. Sir John smiled. "Some people differ in their opinions, my lad," he said, with a meaning glance at his son. "Yes, Sir John, meaning Master--Mister Jack; but he don't half understand what it means yet." "You are quite right, Edward. In his delicate state he does not quite grasp what it means." "Oh, father," cried the lad reproachfully; "don't speak like that. Once more, indeed I am not ill." "Humph!" said Sir John, smiling, "not ill? What do you think, Edward?" "No, Sir John, not ill, cert'nly," said the man. "There, father!" cried Jack excitedly, and with a grateful look at their servant, but it faded out directly. "He ain't no more ill than I am, Sir John, if I may make so bold. It's only that he wants stirring up. He reads and reads over the fire till he can't hardly see for the headache, and it's what I told him just now, he's all mopey like for want of change." "Humph! You told him that?" said Sir John sharply. "Yes, Sir John," faltered the man. "I know it was not my place, and I beg pardon. It slipped out quite promiskus like. I know now I oughtn't. It made Master--Mister Jack angry, and he chucked the book at me. Not as I minded the act, for I was glad to see he'd got so much spirit in him." "And so you would like to go with us?" "Oh yes, Sir John," cried the man, flushing with excitement. "But you wouldn't want me to go in livery, of course?" "No," said Sir John quietly. "I should not want you to go in livery. I cannot consent to take you at all." "Oh, sir!" cried the man appealingly. "I am not sorry to hear you make the application, for it shows me that you are satisfied with your position as my servant. But the man I should select to take with us must be a strong active fellow."