that the charm of home was gone. The new wife had stepped in between his father and himself. He felt sure that the marriage had not been of his father's seeking. To

sty maid, who had been in it before Jasper wa

asked, "how came my fath

oor and looked out cau

hen convinced that they were in no danger of listeners,

y believe tha

ow just how she'd do it. She'd tell him how she hadn't got a home, and must go out into the wide world, and

e stay as govern

or Florence, too. So there wasn't no need of Miss Thorne staying here any longer. Your father asked her to stay a while, till she could find another place. It's my belief she

, Margaret?" asked J

ugh when she has her own way, but she's got claws, and you may depend s

thought. "What can Mrs. Kent-a woman-do to injure me? I'll risk that

object to, Master Jasper. She's

father's property, if she will ma

oo sly, and knows her own

at, Margaret. I shall

Jasper?" said Mrs. Kent, softly, w

I ought to be gett

re right. We s

shall miss you,

If you are not feeling well at

promptly; "but I shall have better news to w

tribute to his comfort, you will

duty as well as my pleasur

of the relationship always

he depot. His father and step-mother looked

m-hearted boy," sai

nt, assenting, beca

" added his father, in a tone

me time I may have the chance." Of course she didn't venture to sa

ent s

an improvement on the parent stock. I see in him more m

?" asked Mrs. Kent, who by no mean

don't t

ty then. Jasper may be a fine boy, but he will

said Mr. Kent, smiling. "You

nt to herself. "I think you are an addl

"My marrying you is a proof

said her husb

rried him for a home and an establishment. But he never let his mind dwell on

arding-school. There was one who awaited his

Nichola

plan had succeeded, and she was now the wife of a rich man, and, secondly,

f. "So I'm to be her nephew, am I? Well, it's all one to

r was, she was yet devoted to him, and in so far was superior to him, for he cared for himself first and for no one second. The thought ori

sper had got back he

of intimacy which Jasper found very

en it occurred to him that, after all,

if your mother is well?" he

guard. His mother's le

red, impudently. "She i

exclaimed Jas

's wife, isn't she?" sa

dge no such relation

ep-mother, wha

. You told me before I wen

I have known no other," said Thorne,

r. "However, it is of little importanc

es us relations," said Th

t it does," said

dn't, I suppose," sne

desire so close a connection," sa

ough some time," said Thorne, wit

on his heel an