hing about it," said Jasper, sadly.

"It was Miss Thorne's doings, then--leastways, I must say Mrs. Kent's,
now."

"I know it, John. My father would not have treated me that way. How long
has it been going on--the--"

"The courtship? Well, that was all on the side of Miss Thorne, I'm
thinkin'. She wheedled your father into marrying her."

"I wish I had been here."

"Poor man! he felt too weak to resist, and he did it only because she
teased him. I can take my oath of that."

"It is infamous!" said Jasper. "Have they gone away?"

"No; they ain't goin', I've heard. Your father don't feel able to
travel, and the governess--I mean your step-mother--she don't care much.
They're at home now."

"Then I will go up. I suppose they will be surprised to see me."

"Yes, they will, but your father'll be glad. He sets the world by you,
Master Jasper."

"I believe he does, John," said Jasper. "I wish I could have saved him
from this misfortune."

"It's too late now entirely."

"You are right. I don't know but it might be best for me to turn round
and go back again to school without going to the house at all; but I
must face this thing, and see for myself. If you've got nothing else to
do, John, you may carry my valise."

"I'll do it, Master Jasper, directly. You go up to the house, and I'll
be there in a jiffy."

So Jasper walked thoughtfully and sadly homeward.

We must precede him.

In a sunny sitting-room on the second-floor sat Jasper Kent's father in
a luxurious arm-chair. He was barely fifty, but evidently a chronic
invalid. His constitution had been undermined years before by a
residence of several years in Central America, where he had acquired a
fortune, but paid a costly price therefor in the loss of his health.

For years he had done no business other than to take care of his
property, which was amply sufficient to enable him to live luxuriously.
Yet he did not find the time hanging heavily upon his hands. Of a
studious taste, he had surrounded himself with books and pictures. He
received regularly a New York daily paper, and the leading magazines and
reviews, and barring his ill-health, and occasional seasons of pain,
passed his time in a placid and agreeable manner. Circumstances,
perhaps, had fostered a disposition to indolence, and made it more
difficult to resist the artful schemes of Miss Thorne, whom he had
admitted into the house as governess of his little niece, Florence
Grantley, but who had