boy."

"Oh, I would come. I have wanted to come to you about this, but I felt
that I could not."

"Why?"

"Because it would be dishonourable."

"Perhaps that is only your opinion, Frank. Would it not be better for
me to give you my opinion?"

The boy hesitated for a moment. Then quickly:

"I gave my word, father."

"To whom?"

"Andrew Forbes."

"Not to speak of whatever it is?"

"Yes, father."

Sir Robert Gowan sat looking stern and silent for a few moments as if
thinking deeply.

"Frank boy," he said at last. "I am a man of some experience; you are a
mere boy fresh from a country school, and now holding a post which may
expose you to many temptations. I, then, as your father, whose desire
is to watch over you and help you to grow into a brave and good man,
hold that it would not be dishonourable for you to confide in me in
every way. It can be no dishonour for you to trust me."

"Then I will tell you, father;" and the boy hastily laid bare his
breast, telling of his adventures with Andrew Forbes, and how great a
source of anxiety they had proved to be.

"Hah!" said Sir Robert, after sitting with knitted brows looking
curiously at his son and hearing him to the end. "Well, I am very glad
that you have spoken, my boy, and I think it will be right for you to
stand your ground, and be ready to laugh at Master Andrew and his
political associations. It is what people call disloyal and treasonable
on one side; on the other, it is considered noble and right. But you
need not trouble your head about that. Andrew Forbes is after all a
mere boy, very enthusiastic, and led away perhaps by thoughts of the
Prince living in exile instead of sitting on the throne of England. But
you don't want to touch politics for the next ten years. It would be
better for many if they never touched them at all. There, I am glad you
have told me."

"So am I now, father. But you will not speak about it all, so as to get
Drew in disgrace?"

"I give you my word I will not, Frank. Oh, nonsense! It is froth--
fluff; a chivalrous boy's fancy and sympathy for one he thinks is
oppressed. No, Frank, no words of mine will do Drew Forbes any harm;
but as for you--"

"Yes, father."

"Do all you can to help him and hold him back. It would be a pity for
him to suffer through being rash. They might treat it all as a boy's
nonsense--No, it would mean disgrace. Keep him from it if you can."

"I, father! He is so much o