“There is no occasion for that. Mind, I don’t blame your son. Paul here will have nothing else to do, and can drive me as well as not. Besides, he will read to me, and spare my eyes.” “Frost would be willing to read to you.” Mrs. Granville smiled. “I don’t think reading aloud is one of your son’s accomplishments,” she said. “His voice is not exactly musical.” This was certainly true, for Frost Mercer had a voice deep and croaking, like a frog’s. “I am sorry you are so prejudiced against my poor boy,” said Mrs. Mercer, mortified and displeased. “You are a foolish woman, Mrs. Mercer. I am only going to make it easier for Frost, and give this young gentleman something to do. Paul, you may go with Mrs. Mercer, and take possession of your room. Go where you please, till half past twelve, our dinner hour. After dinner, I may take a drive.” “You’d better get your life insured, then, ma’am,” muttered Mrs. Mercer. “Boys ain’t to be trusted with horses.” “Is your horse very lively or skittish?” asked Paul. “No,” answered Mrs. Granville. “He is very gentle and tractable.” “Then I don’t think there is any need of insuring your life, Mrs. Granville.” “_I_ wouldn’t ride out with you,” said the housekeeper, spitefully. “Perhaps you will think better of me after a while, Mrs. Mercer,” said Paul, good naturedly. The housekeeper closed her lips firmly and shook her head. “I’ve made one enemy, that’s clear,” said Paul to himself--“probably two, for the housekeeper’s son isn’t likely to be my friend.” Mrs. Mercer led the way to a small room on the next floor. “You can go in there,” she said, ungraciously. “Thank you,” said Paul. It occurred to him to wonder why so small a room should be assigned him, while there seemed to be plenty of larger ones. In the arrangement of the room, however, there was nothing to be desired. Everything was neat and comfortable. To Paul, accustomed to a shabby tenement house, it seemed luxurious, and he was disposed to enjoy it for the time, be it long or short. CHAPTER XXXII. FROST MERCER IS CONTRARY. Mrs. Mercer, the housekeeper, was seriously annoyed by the appearance of Paul upon the scene. For years she and her son had had charge of Mrs. Granville’s affairs, and they had taken care to turn the charge to profitable account. The wages which each received formed only a part of this advantage. They bought everything for the house, and levied tribute from every tradesman as a compensation for turning the trade in his direction. The result was that Mrs. Granville, without being aware of it, paid a larger price than any one else for what articles she purchased, the storekeepers and others compensating themselves in this way for the percentage they had to pay the housekeeper and her son.