marries you, mother?" asked Nicholas, who ne

you are in exis

ver speak t

n't dare t

y n

revent his

s, "you only thought of yourself.

are married I shall have more control of money, and if Mr.

le, and cut off that upstart J

Jasper. However, I don't think he'll live long, and I shall

for you, mother-not so goo

cholas. Did you sa

I hate

ther in a low tone, bu

Thorne, in so

ntly he didn't like me. I think, indeed, he mistrusted me, though I never gave occasion for any suspicions.

much since you w

ewhere, and was only at h

sent here to this sch

I did not venture to say much, lest I should be asked how I came to know anything of the

own up after the w

ot at once

y n

health. He may not live six months. We can keep th

y sure he would

se, and is liable t

e his will first, an

cour

uldn't mourn very

pretend to

you do, e

cour

cholas, winking in a way to indicate his

tting on in this world without it. But

n to invite me to t

e a privat

sper be

length I have succeeded. I know too well the danger. The boy has a great influence over his father, whose mind is weakened wi

it!" said Thorne, laughing with malicio

it, Nicholas," said his

But it won't do any harm wh

g till I au

the old gentleman will come down handsomely when you're mar

I must leave you now, Nicholas. I shall have about

I go w

dear boy, but we must be prude

o. Well,

his mother pressed her lip

n it. His heart was not very impressible

," she said, at parting. "You m

rig

ion of the reader it may be described as narrow and long, with small eyes, like those of Nicholas, and thin, tightly-compressed lips. She was not a woman to yield to misfo

stood back two or three hundred yards from the street. A

riedly about her as sh

"It might lead to unpleasant questions and suspicions on his

been no interruption or delay she would have done so; but it was not so to be. She

olas well?" he

o anxiety on that subject, as long as he is under

d the learned principal

oung people intrusted to our charge. We do not limit our endeavors to th

ton. But you must excuse my leaving you a

u again soon, madam," s

again before many weeks,

orning,

course. Her heart gave a bound when, just outside the

't recognize m

ikely to identify her in the eyes of anyone who had seen her often. Jaspe

himself, "she walks ju

t the school, he would have thought the resemblance only accidental, but for a whif

laimed, in surprise,

vexed, but it would

h a smile. "You didn't

e me? Is my father unwe

her is qu

he

ish to ask. I have not come on your accoun

his s

es

mean Nicho

o you k

said Jasper,

nor mother to look after him, only m

d you speak o

ur father or yourself. But I must hurry, or I shall be late

ell him to take care of

l our sakes," said the lady, w

od-

after her as she

thought to himself. "So she is Thorne's aunt

have run the risk of coming. If he tells Nicholas that I have admitted a re