own the corners
of the biography of Franklin, which he had just been reading. Without
saying anything, Eric took the book out of his hand and laid it down.
With his hand upon the cover, he asked,--

"What do you think that Franklin would now say to you?"

"I can't tell what he would say."

"You can, but you do not choose to."

"No, I cannot," said the boy. He stamped insolently with his foot, and
his voice was choked with tears.

"I have a better opinion of you than you have of yourself," said Eric,
taking hold of the boy's chin. "Look at me, don't look down to the
earth, don't be out of humor."

Roland's countenance was unmoved, and the tears stood motionless in his
eyes. Eric continued,--

"Is there any good thing in the world that I would not like to give
you?"

"No; but----"

"Well, but what? Go on."

"Ah, I don't know any. And yet--yet--do go for my sake, go with us; I
could not take pleasure if you were not with us--I there, and you here
alone."

"Would you like to journey then without me?"

"I will not do it, you are to go too!" said the boy, springing up and
throwing himself upon Eric's neck.

"I declare to you most decidedly, I do not go with you."

Roland let his hands fall, when Eric grasped them, saying,--

"I could also say in my turn, Do stay here for my sake; but I will not.
Look up brightly, and think how it would be if we remain together here.
Your parents travel to the Baths; we stay here and learn something
regularly, and are happier than we should be on the promenade, with the
music of the saloon, happier than by the sea-shore. See, Roland, I have
never been to France, nor seen the sea. I renounce the pleasure, I
prefer the duty; and do you know where my duty lies?"

"Ah, the duty can go with us wherever we go," cried the boy, smiling
amidst his tears. Eric was obliged to laugh too; at last he said,--

"This duty cannot travel abroad. You have had distractions enough all
your life. Come, be my dear comrade, my good fellow. Have confidence in
me, that I can see reasons which you cannot."

"Yes, I do have confidence, but it is so splendid, you can't imagine
it, and I will show everything to you."

A whirlwind seemed to have seized Roland, so that he turned round and
round. It came over him with a rush, that he had forced Eric to remain
with him, that he had forced his father to give Eric to him, and now he
was about to desert him! But there was the enticement of the music, the