and jumping out of bed, he dressed himself with unusual
expedition.

Hurrying down-stairs, he found his mother in the kitchen, busily
engaged in getting breakfast.

"Where's father?" he asked.

"He hasn't come in from the barn yet, Frank," his mother
answered. "You can have your breakfast now, if you are in a hurry
to get to studying."

"Never mind, just now, mother," returned Frank. "I want to speak
to father about something."

Taking his cap from the nail in the entry where it usually hung,
Frank went out to the barn. He found that his father was nearly
through milking.

"Is breakfast ready?" asked Mr. Frost, looking up. "Tell your
mother she needn't wait for me."

"It isn't ready yet," said Frank. "I came out because I want to
speak to you about something very particular."

"Very well, Frank, Go on."

"But if you don't think it a good plan, or think that I am
foolish in speaking of it, don't say anything to anybody."