``by no means,'' said mr. wharton, as thehousekeeper was about to withdraw; ``don't imagine youare intruding. come in and sit down.''

``thank you, sir,'' said mrs. bradley, in ameasured tone. ``you are very considerate, i am sure,but if you'll excuse me, i won't come in this evening.''

``mrs. bradley has been with me a good manyyears,'' explained mr. wharton, ``and i dare say shefeels a little disturbed at seeing another occupy herplace, even in a duty like this.''

``i am afraid she will be offended with me, sir,''

said frank.

``oh, no; i will explain matters to her. go onwith your reading, frank.''

at half-past nine, mr. wharton took out his watch.

``it is getting late,'' he said. ``i have no doubt youare tired and need rest.''

``i am not tired, sir.''

``i believe in going to bed early. i shall seldomkeep you later than this. do you think you can findyour way out?''

``yes, sir. when shall i come to-morrow evening?''

``a little before eight.''

``i will be punctual.''

jasper was waiting for him, not wholly withoutanxiety, for it was very unusual for frank to be late.

``well, frank!'' he exclaimed; ``this is a prettytime for you to come home. i began to think youhad got into trouble. i was just going around to thenearest station house in search of you.''

``i was in quite a different place, jasper.''

frank told his story, including an account of hisengagement.

``so it seems i am to lose your company in theevening. i am sorry for that, but i am glad you areso lucky.''

``it was better than i expected,'' said frank, withsatisfaction.

``what sort of a man is this mr. wharton?'' saidjasper.

``he is very kind and generous. i am lucky tohave so good a friend. there's only one thing thatis likely to be disagreeable.''

``what's that?''

``the housekeeper--her name is mrs. bradley--for some reason or other she doesn't want me there.''

``what makes you think so?''

``her manner, and the way she speaks. she camein to read to mr. wharton last evening, and didn'tseem to like it because i had been taken in her place.''

``she is evidently jealous. you must take care notto offend her. she might endeavor to have you dismissed.''

``i shall always treat her politely, but i don't thinki can ever like her.''

meanwhile, the housekeeper, on leaving thelibrary, had gone to her own room in dudgeon.

``mr. wharton's a fool!'' she muttered to herself.

``what possessed him to take this cash-boy from thestreets, invite him to dinner, and treat him as anhonored guest, and finally to engage him as a reader?

i never heard of anything so ridiculous! is this littlevagabond to take my place in the old man's goodgraces? i've been slaving and slaving for twentyyears, and what have i got by it? i've laid up twothousand dollars; and what is that to provide formy old age? if the old man would die, and rememberme handsomely in his will, it would be worthwhile; but this new favorite may stand in my way.

if he does i'll be revenged on him as sure as my nameis ulrica bradley.''

here the area bell rang, and in a moment one ofthe housemaids entered mrs. bradley's room.

``there's your nephew outside, ma'am, and wantingto see you.''

``tell him to come in,'' and the housekeeper's coldface became softer and pleasanter in aspect as ayoung man of twenty entered and greeted her carelessly.

``how are you, aunt?''

``pretty well, thomas,'' she answered. ``youhaven't been here for some time.''

``no. i've had a lot of work to do. nothing butwork, work, all the time,'' he grumbled. ``i wish iwas rich.''

``you get through at six o'clock, don't you?''

``yes.''

``i hope you spend your evenings profitably,thomas?''

``i ain't likely to go on any sprees, aunt, if that'swhat you mean. i only get twelve dollars a week.''

``i should think you might live on it.''

``starve, you mean. what's twelve dollars to ayoung fellow like me when he's got his board to pay,and has to dress like a gentleman?''

``you are not in debt, i hope, thomas?'' said mrs.

bradley, uneasily.

``i owe for the suit i have on, and i don't knowwhere i'm going to get the money to pay for it.''

he was dressed in a flashy style, not unlike what ispopularly denominated a swell. his coarse featureswere disfigured with unhealthy blotches, and his outwardappearance was hardly such as to recommendhim. but to him alone the cold heart of thehousekeeper was warm. he was her sister's son and hernearest relative. her savings were destined for him,and in her attachment she was not conscious of hisdisagreeable characteristics. she had occasionallygiven him a five-dollar bill to eke out what he termedhis miserable pay, and now whenever he called hedidn't spare hints that he was out of pocket, andthat a further gift would be acceptable. indeed, theonly tie that bound him to his aunt was a mercenaryone.

but the housekeeper, sharp-sighted as sheordinarily was, did not detect the secret motive of suchattention she received from her nephew. she flatteredherself that he really loved her, not suspectingthat he was too selfish to love anybody but himself.

``thomas,'' she said, with a sudden thought, ``imay be able to help you to an increase of your income.

mr. wharton needs somebody to read to himevenings. on my recommendation he might takeyou.''

``thank you, aunt, but i don't see it. i don'twant to be worked to death.''

``but, think, thomas,'' said his aunt, earnestly.

``he is very rich. he might take a fancy to youand remember you in his will.''

``i wish somebody would remember me in his will.

do you really think there's any chance of the oldboy's doing something handsome for me?''

``that depends on yourself. you must try toplease him.''

``well, i must do something. what'll he give?''

``i don't know yet. in fact, there's anotherreading to him just now.''

``then there's no chance for me.''

``listen to me. it's a boy he's picked up in thestreets, quite unsuited for the place. he's a cash-boy at gilbert & mack's. why, that's where youare,'' she added, with sudden recollection.

``a cash-boy from my own place? what's hisname?''

``fowler, i believe.''

``i know him--he's lately come. how did he getin with the old man?''

``mr. wharton fell in the street, and he happenedto be near, and helped him home.''

``you'll have to manage it, aunt.''

``i'll see what i can do to-morrow. he ought toprefer my nephew to a strange boy, seeing i havebeen twenty years in his service. i'll let you knowas soon as i have accomplished anything.''

``i don't half like the idea of giving up myevenings. i don't believe i can stand it.''

``it is only for a little while, to get him interestedin you.''

``maybe i might try it a week, and then tell himmy health was failing, and get him to do somethingelse for me.''

``at any rate, the first thing must be to becomeacquainted.''

thomas now withdrew, for he did not enjoy spendingan evening with his aunt, the richer by five dollars,half of which was spent before the eveningclosed at a neighboring billiard saloon.