mer I was intending to look him
up, as a companion on a fishing excursion. Arriving in his
neighborhood, I learned that his mother had just died, leaving no
will, and that the farm would be sold and the boy left penniless,
through a technicality which made the small estates revert to the
surviving sisters. These old hags hated Leon, and, consequently, from
a comfortable home, he was about to become an outcast. I therefore
decided to bring him home with me. He will now live with us."

"Forever?" gasped Madame, surprised to learn that, instead of a guest,
the lad was destined to be a permanent addition to their household.

"Forever!" replied the Doctor, with just a little severity; enough to
check the expression of resentment which he saw rising. Then in order
to give her time to regain control of herself he went on. "Yes! I have
long needed an assistant, and I am sure that Leon will prove an apt
pupil and rapidly learn enough to become useful to me. However, I may
be mistaken. He may prove a failure, and then I should find him a
position elsewhere." This was offered as a sort of compromise for her
acceptance. He held out the possibility that Leon would leave them.
Madame was in nowise deceived. She had appreciated the tone of her
husband's voice as he uttered the word, "Forever," and she knew that
Leon would never leave them on account of proving a failure as a
student. However, she accepted the situation, and assumed a
satisfaction which was mere dissembling.

"Now that I understand the facts, Emanuel, I shall do all in my power
to make the boy happy while he is here, even though it be only for a
short time." The last words were in response to her husband's
suggestion, but he understood her motive as well as she had
comprehended his. Thus they fenced with one another.

"I knew that you would do so, Cora," replied the Doctor. "Will you
come down now and speak to Leon before I take him out with me? I must
have some clothing ordered for him."

Together they descended to where Leon sat awaiting them, and the
youth's fears were set at rest, for the time being at least. Madame
approached him with her most alluring manner, and welcomed him, in
words, to his new home. She even asked him to forget her brusqueness
at their first meeting, and then, suggesting that he must be hungry,
rang a bell and ordered light refreshments.

The Doctor sat apart from them, apparently looking over his letters,
but in reality observing clos