from receiving any favor at the hands of Mrs. Brent.

"As you please, but you will do me the justice to remember that I
offered it."

"Thank you. I shall not forget it."

That evening, just before going to bed, Mrs. Brent opened a trunk and
drew from it a folded paper.

She read as follows--for it was her husband's will:


"To the boy generally known as Philip Brent, and supposed, though
incorrectly, to be my son, I bequeath the sum of five thousand dollars,
and direct the same to be paid over to any one whom he may select
as guardian, to hold in trust for him till he attains the age of
twenty-one."


"He need never know of this," said Mrs. Brent to herself in a low tone.
"I will save it for Jonas."

She held the paper a moment, as if undecided whether to destroy it, but
finally put it carefully back in the secret hiding-place from which she
had taken it.

"He is leaving home of his own accord," she whispered. "Henceforth he
will probably keep away. That suits me well, but no one can say I drove
him to it."