I have a friend in the dry-goods business, who would receive you at my recommendation." "Thank you!" said Frank, hastily.

"But if you will allow me, I would prefer to look around for myself." "What is it you want, then ?" "Your permission to go out into the world, and try to make a living." "And if you don't," said Mr.Manning, "I suppose you expect me to defray your expenses ?" "If I did have such an expectation, I think I should be justified, in view of the large property which my mother left," said Frank, pointedly.
"She left it to me," said his stepfather.
"So it appears, at any rate.

But I shall not call upon you to pay my board.

Give me your permission to go where I please, with a small sum of money to start me, and I shall be satisfied." "And what will the world say?
That I, your stepfather, to whom you have a right to look for maintenance, had driven you out to earn your living! It would be unjust, of course, but the world is ever unjust." And Mr.Manning assumed a look of wronged innocence, which would have imposed on anyone who knew him but slightly.
"I shall defend you from any such charge," said Frank.

"I shall say that you were only yielding to my request." "I will think of it, my dear boy," said Mr.Manning, graciously.