"Does Dr. Benton know this?" asked Nicholas, quickly.
"No; he only knows that I am a widow, He supposes that I have sufficient means."
"I am glad of that."
"Would it make any difference with him?"
"I don't know. Any way, I'd rather he wouldn't know it."
Nicholas Thorne sat by his mother's side thoughtful. He was disappointed to think that his mother's means were so limited, since it curtailed his future expectations. The thought of that mother working patiently to defray his expenses at school made comparatively little impression. He was essentially selfish, and, so long as his wants were provided for, he cared little who labored for him.
"You don't ask the name of the man who employs me," said his mother.
Nicholas looked up.
"I suppose it is nobody I ever heard of," he said.
"No, you never heard of him, but you know some one connected with him."