Basil Wentworth returned home at the time set. He had been accustomed to occupy a room at the house of his uncle, and he repaired there at once. When the first greetings were over, he said, “I am anxious to meet Maria and Edwin.” “I have just received a note from the Fifth Avenue Hotel which I will show you. It should have reached me on Saturday.” It ran thus:
Basil read this letter attentively. “Maria’s departure seems very sudden,” he said. “Yes.” “Did she mention any affairs that were likely to call her away?” “No.” “How often did you see Edwin?” “She brought him here once. Then I invited them both to dinner, but Maria only came. She said Edwin had a headache.” “What were your impressions of the boy?” “He was a fine, attractive lad.” “And looked in perfect health?” “I never saw a healthier-looking boy.” “I am greatly disappointed at not meeting him. It is strange that we should have heard of his death,” said Basil thoughtfully. “Did Maria speak of his sickness?” “Yes, she said he was very ill, but after his recovery had been better than ever before.” “You are a good man, Basil. The boy’s death would increase your income by five thousand dollars.” “I would rather live on one thousand than have that young life cut off.” “I believe you, Basil.” “Maria couldn’t have been in New York more than a week.” “About a week, I should think.” “By the way, I wonder what has become of the Mordaunts? Considering the fact that they are so nearly related to us, we ought to know more about them.” “I have no idea where they are. As you ascertained they have left their western home, but where they have gone I cannot imagine.” “If Edwin Harcourt had really died, it would have been necessary to find them, as they would have been joint heirs with me of my young cousin’s property. I hope at least they are comfortable.” “I think Mr. Mordaunt left a little property.” Some weeks later when Basil came home in the afternoon, his uncle said: “Well, I have had a letter from Maria.” “Indeed! what did she say?” It was this:
“That is quite gratifying, and surprising also,” said Basil. “Edwin, as I remember him, was quite a retiring boy, and the last one that I should have supposed would make a success as an actor.” “Boys grow and develop wonderfully,” returned Mr. Anderson. “I can imagine that Maria is pleased. She was always ambitious.” “I don’t know but we are entitled to feel pleased also at the success of our young relative. It makes me regret all the more that I did not meet him.” In due time Mrs. Harcourt received letters from Basil and also from her uncle, congratulating her on Edwin’s success. She read them with a smile of exultation. “All is working well,” she said. “This unknown boy whom I picked up in the Bowery is turning out to be a star of the first magnitude. I am bound to say that he is doing me more credit than my own poor boy would have done. While I can make my relations and trustees believe that When Ben returned from Bentley Hall Mrs. Harcourt received him with an unusual warmth of manner. “I am proud of you, Edwin,” she said. “You have reflected great credit on me as well as yourself. Where did you learn to act?” “I acted for four weeks at the People’s Theater on the Bowery.” “Indeed! In what character?” “As Ted the Newsboy.” “I see. Do you think any one who saw you on the stage at that time will be likely to recognize you, if he meets you here?” “No, I don’t think so. You see,” Ben continued, with a smile, “I am very differently dressed.” “True. Dress makes a great change.” “Besides, I pass under a different name.” “Yes. Let me see, what is your real name?” “Ben Bruce.” “Yes, in a small New Hampshire town.” Mrs. Harcourt seemed pleased to hear this. “Perhaps you would like to hear my plans,” she said after a pause. “Yes, mother.” “I expect to winter in Paris. And, by the way, Edwin, I suppose you know nothing of the French language.” “No.” “I shall get you a teacher at once, and wish you to go about the city also—indeed I shall arrange to have you go with him, in order that you may learn to speak French as soon as possible.” “I should be glad to speak French. I will study hard.” “That is well. That will gratify me.” Of course Mrs. Harcourt’s chief idea was to enable Ben, should he ever meet Basil, to hold a conversation with him in French, so that there should be no suspicion that Ben was not what she represented him. Ben thoroughly enjoyed his winter in Paris. He seemed to have a special taste for languages, for he picked up French with remarkable rapidity, and made some progress in German. “He speaks French a great deal better than I do, professor.” “That is not strange, madam. Young pupils always learn much faster than their elders.” “And I, being an old woman, can hardly expect to keep up with my boy.” “Old!” repeated the polite professor, holding up his hands. “Madam hardly looks twenty-five.” “But as my son is sixteen, I must be rather more than that,” said Mrs. Harcourt, well pleased at the compliment, nevertheless. It was in April that Ben had a surprise. He was coming out of the Gallery of the Louvre when he met face to face John Wilkins, the dramatic author, in whose play he had first won success as an actor. |