"That was natural. How much do you think they pay him in the circus, Hugo?"
"Really, uncle, I haven't the slightest idea. I never knew any circus people. Four or five dollars a week, perhaps."
"I have been thinking, Hugo, I should like to have that boy live with me."
"You can't be in earnest, uncle," said Hugo, very disagreeably surprised.
"Why not? He may not be akin to me; but he looks like my dead son, and for that resemblance I could come to love him. It would be a great comfort to me to see him every day, and have him come in and out. He might read to me, and so relieve you of some of your duties, Hugo."
"But I have never asked to be relieved of them, uncle," said Hugo, bashfully.
"I know that, Hugo, but he would be company for us both. I want you to go and bring him back with you. You can find out how much they pay him at the circus, and offer him more to come here. I will give him a chance to study, engage masters for him, and—"
"Make him your heir, I suppose," said Hugo to himself, with a dark frown, which his uncle did not see; "not if I am able to prevent it. My uncle must think I am a fool to bring into the house so dangerous a rival. After waiting so many weary years for Chestnutwood, does he think I am going to let it drift into the hands of an unknown boy simply because he looks like my cousin Julian?"
These thoughts passed through the mind of Hugo Richmond, but it is needless to say that he did not give utterance to them, or to anything like them. His course was not to oppose strongly any whim of his uncle, but to seemingly assent, and then oppose it secretly, while the old man thought him to be promoting it.
Nevertheless Hugo was very much annoyed at the present caprice of his uncle, as he chose to style it.