mself, he
may try it. Next fall, and possibly before, he'll be coming back in
rags, and beg me to take him back."

"I hope you won't take him back," said Ralph, who was jealous of Kit.

"I shall not consider myself bound to do so, but if he consents to obey
me, and learn a trade of Mr. Bickford, I will fit him, up and enable him
to do so--out of charity, and because he is my nephew."

"Then you don't mean to do anything about it, sir?" asked Aaron
Bickford, considerably disappointed, for he longed to get Kit into his
power once more.

"No, I will leave the boy to himself. Ralph, as our business seems to be
over, we will turn about and go home."

Mr. Watson drove out of the blacksmith's yard.

"Well, Ralph," he said, as they were on their way home, "I am very much
annoyed at what your cousin has done, but I don't see that I am to
blame."

"Of course you're not, pa," returned Ralph, promptly.

"Still the public may misjudge me. It will be very awkward to answer
questions about Kit. I really don't know what to say."

"Say he's run away and joined the circus. We might as well tell the
truth."

"I don't know but it will be best. I will add that, though it grieves
me, I think it advisable, as he is so old, not to interfere with him,
but let him see the error of his way for himself. I will say also that
when he chooses to come back, I will make suitable arrangements for
him."

"I guess that will do. I will say the same."

"I don't mind saying to you that I shall feel it quite a relief to be
rid of the expense of maintaining him, for he has cost me a great deal
of money. You are my son, and of course I expect to take care of you,
and bring you up as a gentleman, but he has no claim upon me except that
of relationship. I won't say that to others, however."

"You are quite right, pa. As he is poor, and has his own living to make,
it isn't best to send him to a high-priced school, and give him too much
money to spend."

It will be seen that there was a striking resemblance between the views
of father and son, both of whom were intensely selfish, mean and
unscrupulous.

Stephen Watson foresaw that there would be a difficulty in making
outside friends of the family understand why Kit had left home. He
deliberately resolved to misrepresent him, and the opportunity came
sooner than he anticipated.

On the afternoon of the day of his call upon the blacksmith, there was a
ring at the bell, and a middle-aged strange