"Perhaps Major Grafton will adopt the boy," he said to himself, "and then he won't need his father's money." As if this would gloss over or excuse the base fraud of which he had been guilty. He had knowingly and intentionally been the occasion of his brother-in-law's sudden death, and was as much his murderer as if he had plunged a knife into his breast, though his crime was less brutal and revolting. While these thoughts were passing through his mind, Clarence entered the office. "Clarence, your cousin has been here to see you," said Mr. Walton. "What did he have to say, pa?" "He came to bid you good-by." "To bid me good-by? What for? Where is he going?" "He is to sail for Europe this afternoon." "To sail for Europe!" repeated Clarence, in amazement. "He didn't say anything about it last evening." "Because he did not know it. He was only told this morning." "He's a lucky beggar!" said Clarence, enviously. "I've been longing to go to Europe this ever so long. Percy Van Dyke spent last summer in Switzerland. It annoys me to hear him talk of the splendid times he had. Here is my country cousin going, while I have to stay at home." "Don't worry, Clarence," said his father, encouragingly. "You shall go in time. If your friend Percy should be going again, and will accept you as a companion, I will let you go." This somewhat cheered up Clarence, though with the natural impatience of youth he wanted to go at once. "I think I never knew a boy as lucky as Ben," said he. "He certainly has been strangely fortunate," said Mr. Walton. "He would have been glad to take a place in a store at five dollars a week, and now he's got something ever so much better. I believe he has more money than I to spend, and I am sure he dresses better." "He seems to have made an impression upon this Major Grafton. I shouldn't be surprised if Grafton adopted him. He has no family of his own, and is, I imagine, very rich." We know that on this last point Mr. Walton was misinformed. The suggestion, however, was enough to excite the envy and jealousy of Clarence. "Do you think he will be richer than I?" he asked. "You will be well provided for, Clarence. You won't have occasion for envying your cousin, even if he should be adopted by Major Grafton." We have now to change the scene to the little town of Sunderland, from which our hero had come to New York to seek the good fortune which he so strangely found. We direct our steps to a plain cottage, containing but four rooms and an attic, which stood a little out of the centre of the village. Small and plain as it was, it had an air of refinement and good taste, with its climbing honeysuckles, tiny bed of flowers, its trimly-kept lawn and neat surroundings, which are vainly sought about many more pretentious residences. Here dwelt Mrs. Baker and Ben's little sister, Alice, but ten years old. She bore a strong family resemblance to Ben, and was equally good-looking.