"God bless you,
Frank!" cried the friendly voice that never had a harsh note in it for
anybody. "Your fortune's waiting for you. Go in, my boy--go in and win."
"Yes," said Frank. "Thank you. It will be rather difficult to go in and
win, at first. Of course, as you have always told me, a man's business
is to conquer his difficulties, and not to talk about them. At the same
time, I wish I didn't feel quite so loose as I do in my figures. It's
discouraging to feel loose in one's figures.--Oh, yes; I'll write and
tell you how I get on. I'm very much obliged by your kindness, and very
sorry I couldn't succeed with the engineering. I think I should have
liked engineering better than trade. It can't be helped now, can it?
Thank you, again. Good-by."
So he drifted away into the misty commercial future--as aimless, as
helpless, as gentleman-like as ever.
CHAPTER IX.
THREE months passed. During that time Frank remained in London; pursuing
his new duties, and writing occasionally to report himself to Mr.
Vanstone, as he had promised.
His letters were not enthusiastic on the subject of mercantile
occupations. He described himself as being still painfully loose in his
figures.
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