"You are not accustomed to keep secrets from me, father."
"I did it for the best, Jasper; I wanted to tell you, but she--Mrs.
Kent--thought it best not."
"I am afraid, father," said Jasper, sadly, "it will not be the only time that she is destined to come between us."
"No, Jasper," answered his father, with more energy than was usual with him, "that shall not be. I am sure she would not wish it, and I know I wouldn"t permit it. I hope, my dear boy, that you will become reconciled to the new state of things."
"One thing would reconcile me to it," said Jasper.
"What is it?"
"To be a.s.sured that it would promote your happiness."
"I feel sure that it will," said Mr. Kent, but he did not speak very confidently.
"If it be so, it is all I ask. But tell me, father, did you marry for love?"
Mr. Kent hesitated.
"I am too old for that, Jasper," he answered, pleasantly. "The fact is, I need a nurse and Miss Thorne needed a home; and, in fact, without pretending to any sentimental reason, we concluded that it would be the best thing under the circ.u.mstances."
"Was she very much surprised when you made the proposal, father?" asked Jasper, significantly.
"No, I can"t say she was," answered his father, embarra.s.sed.
"It is as I thought," Jasper said to himself; "she inveigled my father into the marriage."
He said aloud:
"Well, father, I heartily hope it will be for your happiness; and now let us talk about something else. Shall I tell you about the school?"
"Yes, Jasper."
So Jasper gossiped about school matters in a way that interested his father, and the two forgot for a time that a new tie had been formed that might possibly make a difference between them.
Meanwhile Mrs. Kent, instead of giving directions about Jasper"s room, opened her writing-desk and wrote a hurried note to Nicholas. In this she said:
"Remember, Nicholas, you are to pa.s.s for my nephew. Why were you so imprudent as to tell Jasper I was your mother? I have explained that you regard me as a mother, though really my nephew. You must give the same explanation. Jasper is at home now, not very well pleased to find that he has a step-mother. But it is done, and he will find it can"t be undone. Be prudent, follow my directions implicitly, and you will find it to your account.
"Your devoted aunt,
"Matilda Thorne Kent.
"P.S.--I have told Mr. Kent about you, and he authorizes me to invite you here to spend the next vacation."
CHAPTER VII.
NEW RELATIONS.
Jasper remained till the next afternoon. His father urged him to stay longer, and his step-mother, with apparent cordiality, seconded the invitation; but Jasper felt that the charm of home was gone. The new wife had stepped in between his father and himself. He felt sure that the marriage had not been of his father"s seeking. To him it was no object. To the former governess it was a matter of importance, since it secured her a permanent home and position, and a share of Mr. Kent"s property.
There was an old servant in the family, a trusty maid, who had been in it before Jasper was born. With her he could speak confidentially.
"Tell me, Margaret," he asked, "how came my father to marry Miss Thorne?"
Margaret went to the door and looked out cautiously, then closed it.
"I don"t want her to hear what I say," she commenced, when convinced that they were in no danger of listeners, "but it"s my belief she asked your father to marry her."
"Do you really believe that, Margaret?"
"Yes, I do, Master Jasper. She"s that bold she wouldn"t mind it, not a bit. Only she"d do it sly-like. I know just how she"d do it. She"d tell him how she hadn"t got a home, and must go out into the wide world, and get him to pity her. Then, you know, he"d got used to seeing her round, and a sick man don"t like changes."
"Why couldn"t she stay as governess to Florence?"
"According to her father"s will Florence is to pa.s.s the next four years in the family of his sister, and she--that"s her aunt--has a governess for her own children that"ll do for Florence, too. So there wasn"t no need of Miss Thorne staying here any longer. Your father asked her to stay a while, till she could find another place. It"s my belief she didn"t try, being bent on staying here as the mistress. At any rate, she told your father she couldn"t get a place, and he offered her the one she wanted, that of his wife."
"How do you like her, Margaret?" asked Jasper, thoughtfully.
"Me like her! That"s what I never did. She"s like a cat--soft-spoken enough when she has her own way, but she"s got claws, and you may depend she"ll show "em. I hope she won"t do anything to harm you, Master Jasper."
"Me!" said Jasper, with the bold confidence of a boy, laughing at the thought. "What can Mrs. Kent--a woman--do to injure me? I"ll risk that, Margaret. It"s of my father I"m thinking. Will she treat him well?"
"I think she will, for it"s her object to, Master Jasper. She"s married him for money, you know."
"I don"t mind her benefiting by my father"s property, if she will make him comfortable during his life."
"I think she will; she"s too sly, and knows her own interest too well not to."
"I"m glad you think that, Margaret. I shall feel better about it."
"Then you don"t think you can stay, Jasper?" said Mrs. Kent, softly, when he announced his determination.
"No, madam, I think I ought to be getting back to school."
"Perhaps you are right. We shall miss you."
"Yes, Jasper, we shall miss you," said his father.
"I will write you often, father. If you are not feeling well at any time, write and let me know."