n the proposal for a moment," she returned,
decidedly; but at his strong remonstrance she at last consented that
when her boy was a little older, the matter should be laid before him;
but no doubt as to his choice crossed her mind. Percy had always been
an affectionate child; nothing would induce him to give up his mother.

But she became less confident as the days went on; Percy grew a little
selfish and headstrong, he wanted a man's will to dominate him; his
narrow, confined life and the restraints that their poverty enforced
on them made him discontented. One day he encountered the lawyer who
had spoken to his mother--he was going to her again, with a letter
that Mr. Huntingdon had written to his daughter--and as he looked at
Percy, who was standing idly on the door-step, he put his hand on his
shoulder, and bade him show him the way.

Nea turned very pale as she read the letter. It was very curt and
business-like; it repeated the offer he had before made with regard to
her son Percy, only adding that for the boy's future prospects it
would be well not to refuse his terms. This was the letter that, after
a moment's hesitation, Nea placed in her boy's hands.

"Well, mother," he exclaimed, and his eyes sparkled with eagerness and
excitement, "I call that splendid; I shall be a rich man one of these
days, and then you will see what I shall do for you, and Fern, and
Fluff."

"Do you mean that you wish to leave us, Percy, and to live in your
grandfather's house?" she returned, trying to speak calmly. "You know
what I have told you--you were old enough to understand what your
father suffered? and--and," with a curious faintness creeping over her
"you see for yourself there is no mention of me in that letter.
Belgrave House is closed to your mother."

"Yes, I know, and it is an awful shame, but never mind, mother, I
shall come and see you very often;" and then when the lawyer had left
them to talk it over, he dilated with boyish eagerness on the
advantage to them all if he accepted his grandfather's offer. His
mother would be saved the expense of his education, she would not have
to work so hard; he would be rich himself, and would be able to help
them. But at this point she stopped him.

"Understand once for all, Percy," she said with a sternness that he
had never seen in her, "that the advantage will be solely for
yourself; neither I nor your sisters will ever accept help that comes
from Belgrave House; your riches