m you've
got, Albert. I ain't used to such style."

"I presume not," said Mrs. Marlowe, dryly.

CHAPTER III.

A VISIT TO THE FACTORY.

During dinner the old man chatted away in the frankest manner, but not a
word did he let drop as to his worldly circumstances. He appeared to
enjoy his dinner, and showed himself entirely at his ease.

"I'm glad to see you so well fixed, Albert," he said. "You've got a fine
home."

"It will do very well," returned the squire, modestly.

"I suppose he never was in such a good house before," thought Mrs.
Marlowe.

"By the way, just before I fell in with you here," went on Jacob, "I ran
across Mary's boy."

"Herbert Barton?" suggested the squire, with a slight frown.

"Yes; he said that was his name."

"They live in the village," said his nephew, shortly.

"They're poor, ain't they?"

"Yes; Barton was not a forehanded man. He didn't know how to accumulate
money."

"I suppose he left very little to his widow."

"Very little. However, I have given the boy a place in my factory, and I
believe his mother earns a trifle by covering base-balls. They don't
want for anything--that is, anything in reason.

"Bert Barton seems a likely boy."

"Oh, he's as good as the average of boys in his position."

"I suppose he and Percy are quite intimate, being cousins."

"Indeed we are not!" returned Percy, tossing his head. "His position is
very different from mine."

Uncle Jacob surveyed Percy in innocent wonder.

"Still, he's kin to you," he observed.

"That doesn't always count," said Percy. "He has his friends, and I have
mine. I don't believe in mixing classes."

"I expect things _have_ changed since I was a boy," said Uncle Jacob,
mildly. "Then, all the boys were friendly and sociable, no matter
whether they were rich or poor."

"I agree with Percy," broke in Mrs. Marlowe, stiffly. "His position in
life will be very different from that of the boy you refer to. Any early
intimacy, even if we encouraged it, could not well be kept up in
after-life."

"Perhaps you are right," said the old man. "I've been away so long at
the mines that I haven't kept up with the age or the fashions."

Percy smiled, as his glance rested on his uncle's creased suit, and he
felt quite ready to agree with what he said.

"I was thinkin' how pleasant it would be if you would invite Mary and
her boy to tea--we are all related, you know. We could talk over old
times and scenes, and have a