“Who is going with you, Mr. Melville?” asked Herbert, feeling, it must be confessed, a slight twinge of jealousy.

“I thought perhaps you would be willing to accompany me,” said Melville.

“Would you really take me, Mr. Melville?” cried Herbert, joyfully.

“Yes, if you will go.”

“I should like nothing better.  I have always wanted to travel.  It quite takes my breath away to think of going so far away.”

“I should hardly venture to go alone,” continued George Melville.  “I shall need some one to look after the details of the journey, and to look after me if I fall sick.  Do you think you would be willing to do that?”

“I hope you won’t fall sick, Mr. Melville; but if you do, I will take the best care of you I know how.”

“I am sure you will, Herbert, and I would rather have you about me than a man.  Indeed, I already begin to think of you as a younger brother.”

“Thank you, Mr. Melville,” said Herbert, gratefully.  “I am glad you do.”

“Do you think your mother will object to your leaving home, Herbert?”

“Not with you.  She knows I shall be well provided for with you.  Can I arrange to send money regularly to mother?” asked the boy.  “I shouldn’t like to think of her as suffering for want of it.”

“Yes, but to guard against emergencies, we can leave her a sum of money before you start.”

After dinner Mr. Melville proposed to Herbert to accompany him on a walk up Washington Street, They walked slowly, Herbert using his eyes diligently, for to him the display in the shop windows was novel and attractive.

At length they paused at the door of a large and handsome jewelry store—­one of the two finest in Boston.

“I want to go in here, Herbert,” said his employer.

“Shall I stay outside?”

“No, come in with me.  You may like to look about.”

Though Herbert had no idea of the cost of the fine stock with which the store was provided, he saw that it must be valuable, and wondered where purchasers enough could be found to justify keeping so large a supply of watches, chains, rings and the numberless other articles in gold and silver which he saw around him.

“I would like to look at your watches,” said Melville to the salesman who came forward to inquire his wishes.

“Gold or silver, sir?”

“Silver.”

“This way, if you please.”

He led the way to a case where through the glass covering Herbert saw dozens of silver watches of all sizes and grades lying ready for inspection.

“For what price can I get a fair silver watch?” asked Melville.

“Swiss or Waltham?”

“Waltham.  I may as well patronize home manufactures.”

“Here is a watch I will sell you for fifteen dollars,” said the salesman, drawing out a neat-looking watch, of medium size.  “It will keep excellent time, and give you good satisfaction.”