--You're right, my love. Nothing in this world
without a drawback. Frank _will_ miss his friends in England: there's no
denying that."
"You always liked Frank. And Frank always liked you."
"Yes, yes--a good fellow; a quiet, good fellow. Frank and I have always
got on smoothly together."
"You have got on like father and son, haven't you?"
"Certainly, my dear."
"Perhaps you will think it harder on him when he has gone than you think
it now?"
"Likely enough, Magdalen; I don't say no."
"Perhaps you will wish he had stopped in England? Why shouldn't he stop
in England, and do as well as if he went to China?"
"My dear! he has no prospects in England. I wish he had, for his own
sake. I wish the lad well, with all my heart."
"May I wish him well too, papa--with all _my_ heart?"
"Certainly, my love--your old playfellow--why not? What's the matter?
God bless my soul, what is the girl crying about? One would think Frank
was transported for life. You goose! You know, as well as I do, he is
going to China to make his fortune."
"He doesn't want to make his fortune--he might do much better."
"The deuce he might! How, I should like to know?"
"I'm afraid to tell you.
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