"I wish you would. That's what I just asked you."
"I'm the owner of this place, and I warn you off."
"Oh, you're the owner of this place!" said the stranger, laughing. "Doyou own the road, too?"
"Yes," said Nicholas, "I own the road in front of my place."
Dick laughed again.
"You're a young man, ain't you, to be a landed proprietor. How aboutyour mother? Doesn't she own anything?"
"What do you know about my mother?" demanded Nicholas, a littlenonplussed.
"More than you think for, young man," said Dick. "She used to go toschool with me."
"Did she? Well, I suppose she couldn't help it if there were low personsin the school with her."
"That's good!" said the stranger, laughing heartily. "So I am a lowperson, am I?"
"You look like it," said Nicholas, insolently.
He expected the man would be angry, but instead he laughed more heartilythan before.
Nicholas began to think he was crazy.
"Well, boy," he said, after a pause, "just remember that appearances aresometimes deceitful."
"I don't think they are so in this case," said Nicholas, "but I can'twaste anymore time with you. There's my horse coming around. I'm goingto ride."
"Is that your team? It's very neat, 'pon my word."
"That's nothing to you."
"Won't you give me a seat? I've never been in this town before, and Ishould like to take a drive."
"Look here, fellow, you've got cheek!" exclaimed Nicholas.
"Have I?"
"Do you think I would be seen in such low company?"
"Why not? I'm a gentleman. If you are a gentleman, then I am, too."
"What do you mean? What have I to do with you?"
"A good deal," said the stranger. "I am your uncle!"
Nicholas gasped for breath. What! this low, common person his uncle? Hewould not credit it.
"That's a lie!" he said. "You are trying to humbug me."
"Not so fast, nephew Nicholas," said Dick. "You can't alter facts. I'myour mother's brother. Didn't she ever tell you of your Uncle Dick?"
Uncle Dick! Nicholas did remember that his mother had named such aperson, and the uncomfortable apprehension dawned upon him that thestranger's claim was well founded, after all. He kept silent, but flaredat the stranger in a state of mental disturbance.
"I see you've heard of me," said Dick, with a short laugh. "Is yourmother at home?"
"I believe so," said Nicholas, sullenly.
"I've come a long way to see her. Will you go in and tell her I amhere?"
Nicholas was not overwilling to obey the person whom he had just calledlow, but he felt considerable curiosity as to whether the man was reallyhis uncle, and this decided him to comply with his request.
"I will speak to my mother," he said. "She will know whether you arewhat you claim to be."
"Yes, she will know. I don't believe she has forgotten brother Dick."
Nicholas sought and found his mother.
"What, Nicholas, back so soon?" she said, looking up from her sewing.
"No, mother, I haven't started yet. There's a person down stairs whosays he is my Uncle Dick, and he wants to see you."
"Good heavens! is he here?" exclaimed Mrs. Kent, in a tone of vexation."How in the world did he find me out?"
"Then it is he? He is a very common-looking person."
"He's kept low associates. Where is he?"
"Down on the lawn."
"Tell him to come in. I suppose I shall have to see him."
"It may not be your brother after all," said Nicholas.
"I am afraid it is. I can tell soon as I see him."
Nicholas went down stairs in no very pleasant mood.
"You're to come in," he said, ungraciously. "My mother will see you."
"I thought so," said Dick, smiling complacently.
CHAPTER XXXII.
A COLD RECEPTION.
Richard Varley followed Nicholas into the presence of Mrs. Kent. Thelatter looked scrutinizingly at him as he approached, hoping that itmight be an impostor. But, no! there was no mistaking his appearance. Itwas, indeed, her brother.
"How d'ye do, Helen," said Dick, with ostentatious cordiality.
"Very well, Richard," she answered coldly, slipping her hand out of hisgrasp as quickly as she could.
"The old girl ain't very glad to see me," thought Dick. "Just as Ithought."
"How did you find me out?" asked Mrs. Kent.
"There was a man from this way told me of your good luck."
"Where were you, then?"
"In Missouri, near St. Louis."
"Indeed? Have you just come from there?"
"Yes."
"Did you have any business this way? I suppose you must, or you wouldn'thave come so far."
"I came on purpose to see you, Helen," said Dick, trying to look like anaffectionate brother, and signally failing.
"You are certainly very kind," said Mrs. Kent in a cold tone, evincingnot the slightest pleasure at his devotion. "I am afraid you must haveput yourself to a good deal of inconvenience on my account."
"Why, yes, I have," answered her brother, perceiving at once that hemight urge this as a claim upon her; "but what of that? Ain't you myonly sister, and hasn't it been years since we met?"
"Really, Richard," said Mrs. Kent, with a little quiet sarcasm, "I washardly prepared to expect from you so great an interest in me. I wonderyou didn't come before. It's a good many years since we met."
"Well, Helen, you see I couldn't afford it before. I wanted to see you,but I couldn't raise the money to come East."
"You've raised it now, it seems."
"Yes; I had a little stroke of luck."
"You're doing well, then?" asked his sister, with a slight show ofinterest.
If this were so, she was ready to welcome him.
"I said a little show of luck. I got together money enough to comeEast."
"Oh, indeed!" returned Mrs. Kent, her manner becoming chilly again.
Dick got nettled. He didn't relish his reception.
"It seems to me you ain't very glad to see me," said he, bluntly.
"I never was very demonstrative," said his sister. "Did you expect me tofall on your neck and embrace you?"
"No; but--well, you know what I mean. You are as cold as an icicle."
"It's my way, I suppose. Is your wife living?"
"Yes."
"Is she with you?" asked Mrs. Kent, rather apprehensively.
"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?"
Dick 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 younglord."
"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.
Dick laughed.
"Oh, you're good at keeping secrets, Helen," he said; "but you can'tdeceive 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 myaffairs?"
"No, no. You're on the wrong scent this time. He told me himself."
"What! has he got back again?" d
emanded Mrs. Kent, in surprise anddismay.
"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 tointerfere, 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 submitto me. If not, he will probably have to submit to a great manyprivations."
"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 aboutNicholas."
"Where are you staying?" asked his sister.
"Why," said Dick, rather taken aback, "I calculated you would invite meto 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 veryquietly, Nicholas and I. I don't think it will suit one so active as youare."
"I'll take the risk, sister Helen. It seems good to be in my ownsister's house after so many years. Besides, I should like to ride outwith 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 fewhints about driving."
Mrs. Kent winced. She was proud, and she did not fancy exhibiting Dickto the village people as her brother. But there seemed no way ofavoiding it. She privately determined to get rid of him as soon aspossible.
"I must leave you now," she said, gathering up her work. "I will ask theservant to show you your room."
"All right, Helen. Don't trouble yourself about me. I'll make myself athome."
"I'm afraid you will," thought his sister.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
DICK PUNISHES NICHOLAS.
"Is that man going to stay here?" asked Nicholas, in a tone ofdissatisfaction.
"Yes."
"What made you invite him?"
"I couldn't help it, Nicholas. He is my brother."
"I'm ashamed of the relationship."
"I am not proud of it myself, but I can't help paying him a littleattention."
"How long is he going to stay?"
"A day or two."
"He'll stay a week or two if you let him."
"I can prevent that."
"How?"
"You'll see."
The manner of Nicholas toward his uncle was far from agreeable. In fact,it was almost insolent. Dick retained his temper out of policy, but hesaid to himself:
"Some time or other, my fine nephew, I'll pay off old scores. See if Idon't."
"Are you going to ride this morning?" he asked the next day.
"I may," answered Nicholas.
"I should like to ride with you."
"I prefer riding by myself."
"Oh, come, nephew. I shan't stay here long. Don't refuse such a smallfavor."
In consequence probably of the first part of this answer, Mrs. Kentsaid:
"Nicholas, you'd better take your uncle out this morning and show him alittle of the village."
Nicholas grumblingly assented.
So about ten o'clock they started out.
"You've got a good horse here," said Dick.
"He ought to be. Mother paid four hundred dollars for him."
"Did she, though? You ought to have got me to send you one from theWest. For half the money I'd have sent you a better one."
"I don't believe it."
"Because you don't know. I do."
"It takes a good driver to drive this horse," said Nicholas.
"Does it? I could drive this horse blindfolded."
He spoke contemptuously, and Nicholas was nettled. He prided himselfupon his driving ability, and now his uncle underestimated it.
"The horse is not as easy to drive as you think," he said. "If you don'tbelieve it, take the reins and see."
"All right."
This was what Dick wanted, for he had a plan for revenging himself onhis upstart nephew. He drove on till he got to a place where there was amuddy and miry puddle beside the road. Then by a dexterous manoeuver,for he understood driving thoroughly, he managed to overturn the wagon,and Nicholas was thrown headlong into the puddle. Dick leaped out justat the right time, retaining his hold on the reins.
Bespattered with mud and drenched with mire, Nicholas arose from thepuddle a sorry figure.
"What did you do that for?" he demanded, wrathfully, surveying himselfwith disgust.
"I'm afraid I can't manage your horse," said Dick, with hypocriticalmeekness. "He was too much for me."
"Didn't I tell you so?" said Nicholas, triumphing in spite of his wofulcondition.
"I'm sorry you fell into the puddle. Why didn't you jump, as I did?"
"I didn't have time," said Nicholas, ruefully. "What a figure I am!"
"I suppose we may as well go home."
"Yes," said Nicholas, sullenly. "That comes of giving you the reins."
"You are right," said Dick. "You'd better drive home yourself."
Nicholas took the reins, but it mortified him not a little to see thelooks of wonder and amusement which he attracted as he passed throughthe village.
Dick laughed to himself.
"I rather think, my proud nephew, we're about even," he said to himself.
In the course of the next day Dick ventured to suggest to his sisterthat a temporary loan would be very acceptable.
"A loan!" she repeated, curling her lip. "Why not say 'gift' at once?"
"I'm willing to put it on that ground," said Dick, unabashed. "Still,I'll give you my note for the amount, if you say so."
"What good would that do?"
"Why, I've got some plans in view which, if successful, will enable meto repay you the money, with interest."
"I have small faith in the success of your plans, Richard."
"I haven't been as lucky as you, sister Helen, I admit; but where wouldyou have been but for your lucky marriage?"
"As to that, I have always taken care of myself," said his sister,coldly.
"May be so. There are some born to good luck."
"How much money do you expect me to give you?" asked Mrs. Kent.
Dick looked at his sister's face attentively. He wished to judge howmuch there was a chance of getting out of her. His survey was notparticularly encouraging. She didn't appear to be a woman easilywheedled out of her money. Still, he spoke up boldly, and said:
"A loan of five hundred dollars, Helen, would be a great lift to me."
"I have no doubt it would," said Mrs. Kent, quietly; "but if you haveany expectation of getting that sum from me you know very little of me.I should be a fool to throw away such a sum of money."
"You would be generous."
"I have no ambition to be considered generous," she answered, coldly. "Afool and his money are soon parted. You appear to take me for a fool,but I beg to assure you that you are entirely mistaken."
"How much will you lend me, then?" asked Dick, rather sullenly.
"Don't use that ridiculous word 'lend,' when you know there's noprobability of your ever repaying it, even if you should be able."
"Have your own way, Helen."
"I will give you fifty dollars, though in justice to my boy I ought notto do so."
"Fifty dollars!" repeated Dick, chagrined. "Why, that don't pay me forcoming East."
"You are right. You would have done better to stay where you were."
"You don't seem t
o consider, Helen, that we hadn't met for years, and Iwanted to see my only sister."
"Suppose I had had no money, would you have come then?" asked Mrs. Kent,with contemptuous incredulity.
"No; I couldn't have afforded it. But, Helen, fifty dollars is nothingat all. You might say a hundred."
"I might say a hundred, but there is no chance that I shall. Are you notashamed--a great, strong man, as you are--not to be able to supportyourself and wife without help from me?"
"Luck's been agin me," said Dick, sullenly. "I could have got ahead butfor that."
"How has it been against you?"
"I owned a mining claim in California--it didn't pay anything--and Isold it for ten dollars. The man I sold it to kept working till hestruck a vein. He cleared ten thousand dollars."
"As you might have done if you hadn't despaired too quickly."
"Oh, well, it's easy enough to criticise, Helen. You've struck a vein,and you're in luck. No more hard work for you."
"There would be if I gave away my money, five hundred dollars at a time.You needn't complain of my good fortune. I have had my share of work todo. Now I am comfortable, and I mean to keep so."
"No matter what becomes of your poor brother?" whined Dick.
"My poor brother must work as I have done, and he won't starve. Do youthink, if I were a man," she said, disdainfully, "that I would stoop toask help of a woman!"