all merely announce my decision," said Mrs. Kent, coolly. "I am not
bound to assign any reasons."

"Won't there be a precious row!" said Thorne.

"I presume he will complain, but he has not conducted himself toward me
in a manner to secure any favors."

"I say, mother, can you give me my first week's allowance in advance?
I'm awful hard up."

"Here, my son," said Mrs. Kent, drawing out her pocket-book and placing
a five-dollar bill in her son's hand.

"Good for you, mother. When are you going to have supper?"

"In an hour."

"How much property did the old man leave?"

"The estate is probably fully up to one hundred thousand dollars. This
place is worth fifteen thousand. The rest is in good interest-paying
stocks and bonds."

"And a third belongs to you! I say, mother, you've feathered your nest
well. I guess I'll go out and take a look round."

In the rear of the house, in front of the stable, Nicholas caught sight
of Jasper.

He smiled maliciously.

"I'll go and tell him about the reduction in his allowance," he said to
himself.

CHAPTER XI.

THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES.

Jasper was quietly thinking over his change of circumstances when he was
roused by a rather violent slap on the shoulder.

Turning hastily, he saw that it was Nicholas.

"I say, this is a jolly place, Jasper," said Thorne.

"Yes," said Jasper. "It has been my home as far back as I can remember."

"That's where you have the advantage of me, but after all it doesn't
make much difference, as long as it's going to be my home now."

Jasper didn't reply.

"I say, Kent, it seems odd that me and you are brothers," said Thorne,
not very grammatically.

"We are not," said Jasper, quickly.

"It's all the same--we've got the same mother."

"You are mistaken," said Jasper, coldly.

"You know what I mean. She's my mother and your step-mother."

"That's very different. Besides, the relationship is so very recent that
I find it hard to think of your mother as any relation at all."

"She is, though. I suppose me and you will be a good deal together now."

"I don't know what my future plans will be," said Jasper, not very much
elated by this prospect.

"No, I suppose not. Mother'll arrange about them. How much allowance did
your father use to give you?"

Jasper thought at first of refusing to reply, but it occurred to him
that under the new and strange circumstances it was not an improper
question for Nicholas to ask. He