“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?”
“You can read the letter. There’s one passage that will surprise you.”
It was this:
“And now, Uncle Henry, I have great news to tell you. Where do you think Edwin is? He is the guest of the Earl of Bentley, and staying at his country house, Bentley Hall. You must know that the Earl and his family were our fellow-passengers on the Etruria, and Lord Cyril Bentley occupied the same stateroom with Edwin. The young nobleman took a great fancy to my boy, and so did the Earl and Countess. They were inseparable companions, that is Edwin and Cyril, and when we reached England Edwin was invited very cordially to visit Bentley Hall. Of course I made him accept, though it will delay my educational plans for him somewhat. But it will be quite a feather in his cap to get into such high society.
“Edwin seems to have done himself credit there. He consented to take part in some private theatricals, and this is what the Morning Post of yesterday says: ‘Among the guests of the Earl and Countess of Bentley is a young American boy, Edwin Harcourt, who has quite distinguished himself by his success in private theatricals. We understand that he belongs to a family of high social position in America, but should circumstances ever make it necessary, he could doubtless win success as an actor.’”
“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.”