CHAPTER IX
THE HOUSEKEEPER'S NEPHEW
"By no means," said Mr. Wharton, as the housekeeper was about towithdraw; "don't imagine you are intruding. Come in and sit down."
"Thank you, sir," said Mrs. Bradley, in a measured tone. "You are veryconsiderate, I am sure, but if you'll excuse me, I won't come in thisevening."
"Mrs. Bradley has been with me a good many years," explained Mr.Wharton, "and I dare say she feels a little disturbed at seeing anotheroccupy her place, even in a duty like this."
"I am afraid she will be offended with me, sir," said Frank.
"Oh, no; I will explain matters to her. Go on with your reading, Frank."
At half-past nine, Mr. Wharton took out his watch.
"It is getting late," he said. "I have no doubt you are tired and needrest."
"I am not tired, sir."
"I believe in going to bed early. I shall seldom keep you later thanthis. Do you think you can find your way out?"
"Yes, sir. When shall I come to-morrow evening?"
"A little before eight."
"I will be punctual."
Jasper was waiting for him, not wholly without anxiety, for it was veryunusual for Frank to be late.
"Well, Frank!" he exclaimed; "this is a pretty time for you to comehome. I began to think you had got into trouble. I was just going aroundto the nearest station house in search of you."
"I was in quite a different place, Jasper."
Frank told his story, including an account of his engagement.
"So it seems I am to lose your company in the evening. I am sorry forthat, but I am glad you are so lucky."
"It was better than I expected," said Frank, with satisfaction.
"What sort of a man is this Mr. Wharton?" said Jasper.
"He is very kind and generous. I am lucky to have so good a friend.There's only one thing that is likely to be disagreeable."
"What's that?"
"The housekeeper--her name is Mrs. Bradley--for some reason or other shedoesn't want me there."
"What makes you think so?"
"Her manner, and the way she speaks. She came in to read to Mr. Whartonlast evening, and didn't seem to like it because I had been taken in herplace."
"She is evidently jealous. You must take care not to offend her. Shemight endeavor to have you dismissed."
"I shall always treat her politely, but I don't think I can ever likeher."
Meanwhile, the housekeeper, on leaving the library, had gone to her ownroom in dudgeon.
"Mr. Wharton's a fool!" she muttered to herself.
"What possessed him to take this cash-boy from the streets, invite himto dinner, and treat him as an honored guest, and finally to engage himas a reader? I never heard of anything so ridiculous! Is this littlevagabond to take my place in the old man's good graces? I've beenslaving and slaving for twenty years, and what have I got by it? I'velaid up two thousand dollars; and what is that to provide for my oldage? If the old man would die, and remember me handsomely in his will,it would be worth while; but this new favorite may stand in my way. Ifhe does I'll be revenged on him as sure as my name is Ulrica Bradley."
Here the area bell rang, and in a moment one of the housemaids enteredMrs. Bradley's room.
"There's your nephew outside, ma'am, and wanting to see you."
"Tell him to come in," and the housekeeper's cold face became softer andpleasanter in aspect as a young man of twenty entered and greeted hercarelessly.
"How are you, aunt?"
"Pretty well, Thomas," she answered. "You haven't been here for sometime."
"No. I've had a lot of work to do. Nothing but work, work, all thetime," he grumbled. "I wish I was rich."
"You get through at six o'clock, don't you?"
"Yes."
"I hope you spend your evenings profitably, Thomas?"
"I ain't likely to go on any sprees, aunt, if that's what you mean. Ionly get twelve dollars a week."
"I should think you might live on it."
"Starve, you mean. What's twelve dollars to a young fellow like me whenhe's got his board to pay, and has to dress like a gentleman?"
"You are not in debt, I hope, Thomas?" said Mrs. Bradley, uneasily.
"I owe for the suit I have on, and I don't know where I'm going to getthe money to pay for it."
He was dressed in a flashy style, not unlike what is popularlydenominated a swell. His coarse features were disfigured with unhealthyblotches, and his outward appearance was hardly such as to recommendhim. But to him alone the cold heart of the housekeeper was warm. He washer sister's son and her nearest relative. Her savings were destinedfor him, and in her attachment she was not conscious of his disagreeablecharacteristics. She had occasionally given him a five-dollar bill toeke out what he termed his miserable pay, and now whenever he called hedidn't spare hints that he was out of pocket, and that a further giftwould be acceptable. Indeed, the only tie that bound him to his aunt wasa mercenary one.
But the housekeeper, sharp-sighted as she ordinarily was, did not detectthe secret motive of such attention she received from her nephew. Sheflattered herself that he really loved her, not suspecting that he wastoo selfish to love anybody but himself.
"Thomas," she said, with a sudden thought, "I may be able to help youto an increase of your income. Mr. Wharton needs somebody to read to himevenings. On my recommendation he might take you."
"Thank you, aunt, but I don't see it. I don't want to be worked todeath."
"But, think, Thomas," said his aunt, earnestly. "He is very rich. Hemight take a fancy to you and remember you in his will."
"I wish somebody would remember me in his will. Do you really thinkthere's any chance of the old boy's doing something handsome for me?"
"That depends on yourself. You must try to please him."
"Well, I must do something. What'll he give?"
"I don't know yet. In fact, there's another reading to him just now."
"Then there's no chance for me."
"Listen to me. It's a boy he's picked up in the streets, quite unsuitedfor the place. He's a cash-boy at Gilbert & Mack's. Why, that's whereyou are," she added, with sudden recollection.
"A cash-boy from my own place? What's his name?"
"Fowler, I believe."
"I know him--he's lately come. How did he get in with the old man?"
"Mr. Wharton fell in the street, and he happened to be near, and helpedhim home."
"You'll have to manage it, aunt."
"I'll see what I can do to-morrow. He ought to prefer my nephew to astrange boy, seeing I have been twenty years in his service. I'll letyou know as soon as I have accomplished anything."
"I don't half like the idea of giving up my evenings. I don't believe Ican stand it."
"It is only for a little while, to get him interested in you."
"Maybe I might try it a week, and then tell him my health was failing,and get him to do something else for me."
"At any rate, the first thing must be to become acquainted."
Thomas now withdrew, for he did not enjoy spending an evening with hisaunt, the richer by five dollars, half of which was spent before theevening closed at a neighboring billiard saloon.