ou?" sneered Harold.

"I have," answered Luke, quietly.

With a comical twinkle in his eye, he offered one to Harold.

"Luke Walton," repeated Harold.

"Yes, that is my name."

"I don't think my aunt will care to see you," said Mrs. Tracy, who was
becoming more and more provoked with the "upstart boy," as she
mentally termed him.

"Perhaps it would be better to let her know I am here."

"It is quite unnecessary. I will take the responsibility."

Luke was quite in doubt as to what he ought to do. He could not very
well prevent Harold's closing the door, in obedience to his mother's
directions, but fortunately the matter was taken out of his hands by
the old lady herself, who, unobserved by Harold and his mother, had
been listening to the conversation from the upper landing. When she
saw her visitor about to be turned out of the house, she thought it
quite time to interfere.

"Louisa," she called, in a tone of displeasure, "you will oblige me by
not meddling with my visitors. Luke, come upstairs."

Luke could not forbear a smile of triumph as he passed Harold and Mrs.
Tracy, and noticed the look of discomfiture on their faces.

"I didn't know he was your visitor, Aunt Eliza," said Mrs. Tracy,
trembling with the anger she did not venture to display before her
wealthy relative.

"Didn't he say so?" asked Mrs. Merton, sharply.

"Yes, but I was not sure that he was not an impostor."

"You had only to refer the matter to me, and I could have settled the
question. Luke is in my employ----"

"In your employ?" repeated Mrs. Tracy, in surprise.

"Yes; he will do errands for me, and sometimes accompany me to the
city."

"Why didn't you call on Harold? He would be very glad to be of service
to you."

"Harold had other things to occupy him. I prefer the other
arrangement. Luke, come into my room and I will give you directions."

Mrs. Tracy and Harold looked at each other as the old lady and Luke
disappeared.

"This is a new freak of Aunt Eliza's," said Mrs. Tracy. "Why does she
pass over you, and give the preference to this upstart boy?"

"I don't mind that, mother," replied Harold. "I don't want to be
dancing attendance on an old woman."

"But she may take a fancy to this boy--she seems to have done so
already--and give him part of the money that ought to be yours."

"If we find there is any danger of that, I guess we are smart enough
to set her against him. Let her have the boy for a servant if she
wi