me age as Jasper. Do I venture too much in
asking you to become his friend?"

Mrs. Kent modulated her voice, as she well knew how to do, to
counterfeit warm and tender feeling, as she proffered this request. Her
nature was feline, and she knew how to conceal her claws.

"You may rely upon my co-operation, my dear," said Mr. Kent, kindly, "in
your noble task."

There was a latent gleam of triumph in Mrs. Kent's eyes as she heard
this promise, which transferred to her husband a burden which had long
been a drain upon her own slender purse. She had dreaded the effect of
this announcement upon her husband, and finally, as we have seen,
thought it best to change the relationship and call Nicholas her nephew,
and not her son. So that difficulty was well surmounted, and the effect
had been to impress Mr. Kent with a sense of her generous and unselfish
devotion.

But her exultation was short-lived. A bustle was heard outside. An
instant later the door was thrown open, and Jasper entered the room,
flushed and excited.

CHAPTER VI.

THE STEP-MOTHER.

"Jasper!" exclaimed his father, in surprise, but showing pleasure,
nevertheless, at his son's unexpected presence.

The boy went straight up to his father, passing within two feet of his
father's wife, but without even looking at her.

"Father!" he burst forth, impulsively, "is it true?"

"Is what true?" asked his father, embarrassed, for he guessed what
Jasper meant.

"Are you married--to her?" pointing to Mrs. Kent, who looked indignant
at the reference.

"Yes, Jasper," answered his father, nervously. "Shake hands with
your--with Mrs. Kent."

He was about to say "your mother," but something in his memory, perhaps
something in his son's face, led him to change the expression.

Jasper did not apparently heed the suggestion. Instead, he said,
reproachfully:

"Why was it, father, that you left me in ignorance of your intention?"

"She thought it best," said his father, in an apologetic tone.

Mrs. Kent spoke for the first time.

"Yes, Jasper, we thought it would only interrupt your studies."

Jasper could not help a slight sneer, as he answered:

"You were very considerate, madam; but it seems to me that such an
important event in my father's life would justify an interruption."

Mrs. Kent repressed her real feelings of anger and vexation, and
answered mildly, and with an affectation of good humor:

"I don't know but you are right, Jasper, and we we