on the boy's face.

"Good heavens!" he muttered to himself. "Who is that boy? How comes he
here?"

Frank noticed his intent gaze, and wondered at it, but Mr. Wharton's
eyesight was defective, and he did not perceive his nephew's excitement.

"I see you have a young visitor, uncle," said John Wade.

"Oh, yes," said Mr. Wharton, with a kindly smile. "He spends all his
evenings with me."

"What do you mean, sir?" demanded John Wade, with sudden suspicion and
fear. "He seems very young company for----"

"For a man of my years," said Mr. Wharton, finishing the sentence. "You
are right, John. But, you see, my eyes are weak, and I cannot use them
for reading in the evening, so it occurred to me to engage a reader."

"Very true," said his nephew. He wished to inquire the name of the boy
whose appearance had so powerfully impressed him but he determined not
to do so at present. What information he sought he preferred to obtain
from the housekeeper.

"He seemed surprised, as if he had seen me some where before, and
recognized me," thought Frank, "but I don't remember him. If I had seen
his face before, I think I should remember it."

"Don't come out, uncle." said John Wade, when summoned to tea by the