Then his eyes dwelt critically on the refined and handsome face of the artist, and a vague feeling of jealousy sprang up within him, for he was still firmly resolved upon marrying Grace.
"But no," he thought, recovering himself; "Grace would not stoop to a fellow like that. She only wishes to patronize him."
CHAPTER XV.
A FELLOW-CONSPIRATOR.
Stephen Palmer, since his discomfiture, had not visited his step-mother or Grace. He felt that he hated the whole family, but most of all Paul. A bully never forgives the one, boy or man, who humiliates him; and Stephen felt the more mortified and incensed because our hero was so much younger than himself. Paul was his equal in height, but Stephen was broader and stronger, and but for his habits of intoxication, which robbed him of his strength, would have given his young brother a good deal of trouble.
When Luke Denton first unfolded to Stephen the plan he had in view for getting Paul into trouble, the young man was delighted.
"What a head you've got, Luke!" he said, admiringly.
"You like the plan, then?" said Luke, who did not object to flattery, though he had a very poor opinion of Stephen's understanding.
"It's capital! Couldn't be better!" exclaimed Stephen.