orked upon your uncle's feelings that
he hired him to read to him at five dollars a week."

"Is this all the boy does?"

"No; he is cash-boy in a large store on Broadway. He is employed there
all day, and he is here only in the evenings."

"Does my uncle seem attached to him?" asked John.

"He's getting fond of him, I should say. The other day he asked me if
I didn't think it would be a good thing to take him into the house and
give him a room. I suppose the boy put it into his head."

"No doubt. What did you say?"

"I opposed it. I told him that a boy would be a great deal of trouble in
the family."

"You did right, Mrs. Bradley. What did my uncle say?"

"He hinted about taking him from the store and letting him go to school.
The next thing would be his adopting him. The fact is, Mr. John, the boy
is so artful that he knows just how to manage your uncle. No doubt he
put the idea into Mr. Wharton's head, and he may do it yet."

"Does my uncle give any reason for the fancy he has taken to the boy?"
demanded John.

"Yes," said the housekeeper. "He has taken it into his head that the
boy resembles your cousin, George, who died abroad. You were with him, I
believe?"

"Yes, I was with him. Is the resemblance strong? I took very little
notice of him."

"You can look for yourself when you go back," answered the housekeeper.

"What else did my uncle say? Tell me all."

"He said: 'What would I give, Mrs. Bradley, if I had such a grandson?
If George's boy had lived, he would have been about Frank's age. And,"
continued the housekeeper, "I might as well speak plainly. You're my
master's heir, or ought to be; but if this artful boy stays here long,
there's no knowing what your uncle may be influenced to do. If he gets
into his dotage, he may come to adopt him, and leave the property away
from you."

"I believe you are quite right. The danger exists, and we must guard
against it. I see you don't like the boy," said John Wade.

"No, I don't. He's separated your uncle and me. Before he came, I used
to spend my evenings in the library, and read to your uncle. Besides,
when I found your uncle wanted a reader, I asked him to take my nephew,
who is a salesman in the very same store where that boy is a cash-boy,
but although I've been twenty years in this house I could not get him to
grant the favor, which he granted to that boy, whom he never met till a
few weeks ago."

"Mrs. Bradley, I sympathize with you," said her