"No; it was too expensive for me to bring two. I hear you are rich, Helen."
"Is that what brought you on?"
"Don"t be so suspicious. It"s only natural I should congratulate you."
Before this Nicholas had left the room to go out on his proposed drive.
"I"ve got enough to live on economically," she answered, with reserve.
"I am not rich."
"Your son, Nicholas, acts as if you were."
"How is that?"
d.i.c.k laughed.
"He puts on as many heirs as a prince."
"He has considerable spirit," said Mrs. Kent, proudly.
"There"s no doubt of that. He ordered me off with the air of a young lord."
"That was before he knew who you were."
"Yes, he didn"t know I was his uncle. By the way, you"ve got a step-son, haven"t you?"
"Yes; two-thirds of this property belongs to him."
"Where is he?"
"He is absent just now," answered Mrs. Kent, in a tone of reserve.
d.i.c.k laughed.
"Oh, you"re good at keeping secrets, Helen," he said; "but you can"t deceive me."
"What do you mean?" inquired his sister, with some indignation.
"I know all about his going away, Helen."
"Who told you--the neighbors? Have you been questioning them about my affairs?"
"No, no. You"re on the wrong scent this time. He told me himself."
"What! has he got back again?" demanded Mrs. Kent, in surprise and dismay.
"No; I met him in Missouri. He told me there."
"How did he know you were related to me?"
"He heard me and my wife talking about you, and then he told me."
"What did he tell you?"
"That you and he couldn"t agree, and so he left home."
"He was insubordinate. He disobeyed me, and I wouldn"t stand it."
"Oh, well, you two can settle your own affairs. I don"t care to interfere, only I thought you would like to hear from him."
"What"s he doing?" asked Mrs. Kent.
"He was in St. Louis when I left, looking out for a situation."
"I wash my hands of him. He might live easily enough if he would submit to me. If not, he will probably have to submit to a great many privations."
"He is a pretty smart boy; he"ll get along."
"I consider my Nicholas smarter," said Mrs. Kent, coldly.
"Perhaps so," answered her brother, dubiously. "I don"t know much about Nicholas."
"Where are you staying?" asked his sister.
"Why," said d.i.c.k, rather taken aback, "I calculated you would invite me to stay here awhile, seeing I"ve come so far to see you."
Mrs. Kent bit her lips in vexation.
"You can stay a day or two, if you like," she said, "but we live very quietly, Nicholas and I. I don"t think it will suit one so active as you are."
"I"ll take the risk, sister Helen. It seems good to be in my own sister"s house after so many years. Besides, I should like to ride out with my nephew behind that gay horse of his."
"You can speak to him about it," said
Mrs. Kent. "I believe he prefers to be alone."
"Oh, he"ll be willing to treat his uncle to a ride. I"ll give him a few hints about driving."
Mrs. Kent winced. She was proud, and she did not fancy exhibiting d.i.c.k to the village people as her brother. But there seemed no way of avoiding it. She privately determined to get rid of him as soon as possible.
"I must leave you now," she said, gathering up her work. "I will ask the servant to show you your room."
"All right, Helen. Don"t trouble yourself about me. I"ll make myself at home."
"I"m afraid you will," thought his sister.