Frank and Fearless | Page 5

you. From my entrance into his father's family he has never
treated me with any cordiality. Evidently he didn't like me. I think,
indeed, he mistrusted me, though I never gave occasion for any
suspicions. If he should learn now that I am to marry his father, he
would move heaven and earth to prevent the marriage."
"Has he been home much since you were in the house?"
"No; he was at school elsewhere, and was only at home during his
vacations."
"How did he come to be sent here to this school? Did you advise it?"
"No; I was opposed to it, but Mr. Kent was recommended by a friend to
send his son here. I did not venture to say much, lest I should be asked
how I came to know anything of the school. I was afraid you and he
would meet, and he would learn the connections between us."
"I suppose you'll own up after the wedding, won't you?"
"I think not at once, Nicholas."
"Why not?"
"Remember what I told you, that Mr. Kent is in poor health. He may

not live six months. We can keep the matter secret for that time, can't
we, Nicholas?"
"If you were only sure he would die in that time."
"He has heart disease, and is liable to die at any time."
"You want him to make his will first, and leave you guardian?"
"Of course."
"After that you wouldn't mourn very much for his loss?"
"No; I don't pretend to care for him."
"He thinks you do, eh, mother?"
"Of course."
"Oh, you're a deep one, you are," said Nicholas, winking in a way to
indicate his shrewd insight into his mother's motives.
"I have to be, Nicholas. There's no getting on in this world without it.
But I think I shall have to leave you now."
"Then you don't mean to invite me to the wedding, mother?"
"It will be a private ceremony."
"Will Jasper be invited?"
"His father was anxious to have him at home. Indeed, I have had a great
deal of trouble to prevent his sending for him, but at length I have
succeeded. I know too well the danger. The boy has a great influence
over his father, whose mind is weakened with his body, and I should be
afraid that the match would be broken off even at the last moment if the
boy got wind of our plan."
"How mad Jasper will be when he hears of it!" said Thorne, laughing

with malicious enjoyment. "I wish I could tell him."
"Don't breathe a word of it, Nicholas," said his mother, in evident
alarm.
"Oh, I'll keep the secret. But it won't do any harm when it's all over,
will it?"
"Say nothing till I authorize it."
"Well, I won't, then, if I can help it. But I say, mother, the old
gentleman will come down handsomely when you're married. You
ought to raise my allowance to two dollars a week."
"I will if I can afford it," said his mother. "But I must leave you now,
Nicholas. I shall have about time to go to the station and meet the next
train."
"Shan't I go with you?"
"I should like your company, my dear boy, but we must be prudent. We
might meet Jasper Kent."
"That's so. Well, good-bye."
"Good-bye, Nicholas," and his mother pressed her lips upon the cheek
of her son.
He tolerated the kiss, but did not return it. His heart was not very
impressible, and he cared for no one except himself.
"I won't stop to see Dr. Benton," she said, at parting. "You may tell him
that I was in haste."
"All right."
Mrs. Thorne emerged from the parlor and from the house. She was tall
and erect in figure, and walked rapidly. Her face was concealed by a
thick veil, but, for the information 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 misfortune or
give way to sentimental sorrow. She looked rather like one who knew
how to face fortune and defy it. It was not a pleasant face, but it was
decidedly a strong one.
The grounds of the school were extensive, and the house stood back
two or three hundred yards from the street. A long avenue led from the
house to the main thoroughfare.
Mrs. Thorne looked hurriedly about her as she went out on her way.
"I shouldn't like to meet Jasper Kent," she said to herself. "It might lead
to unpleasant questions and suspicions on his part, and I don't want
anything to happen before I am married."
It seemed likely that she would escape the encounter which she dreaded.