"Is he sick or in pain?" asked Chester, in quick sympathy.
"He had a fever when he was three years old that left his mind a wreck1. He is now eight. The most eminent2 physicians have seen him, but there seems little hope of his improvement or recovery."
"Does he suffer pain?"
"You ask on account of the shriek3 you heard. As far as we can tell, he does not. The shriek comes, so the doctor tells us, from a nervous spasm4. He would have been a bright boy if he had kept his health. Would you like to see him?"
Chester shrank back.
"I am afraid I should excite him," he said.
"No," said Arthur, "it may relieve him to see you by diverting his thoughts."
Without further words, he opened the door of a room at the head of the staircase and entered, followed reluctantly by Chester.
Chester was amazed at the sight of the boy. He was wonderfully handsome, especially when at Arthur's words the look of pain left his face and it brightened into radiant beauty. He seemed to fall in love with Chester at first sight. He ran up to him, seized his hand, kissed it, and said:
"I love you."
Arthur, too, looked amazed.
"He never took to anyone so before," he said. "You have fascinated him."
"Sit down. Let me sit in your lap," pleaded Ernest.
All feeling of repugnance8, all thoughts of the boy's malady9 were forgotten. Chester sat in a low rocking-chair and Ernest seated himself in his lap, touching10 his face and hair softly with a caressing11 hand.
"What a charming boy he is!" thought Chester.
"Did you come to see me?" asked Ernest, softly.
"Yes, I came with Arthur."
"Will you stay with me a little while?"
"A little while, but I must soon go. Why did you scream so loud a little while ago?"
"I—don't know."
"Were you in pain?"
"N—no," answered Ernest, softly.
"Do you like to cry out in that manner?"
"No, but—I have to do it. I can't help it."
"I think he gives the right explanation," said Arthur. "It is a nervous impulse, and has nothing to do with pain."
"Does he ever sit in your lap, like this?"
"No; I think he likes me in a way, for I am always kind to him, but you seem to draw him to you irresistibly12."
At that moment the professor came in. When he saw Ernest sitting in Chester's lap, he stopped short in astonishment13.
"This is strange," he said.
"Isn't it, uncle? Chester seems to fascinate my little cousin. No sooner did he enter the room than Ernest ran up to him, kissed his hand, and caressed14 him."
"I can't explain it," said the professor, "but Chester seems to have a wonderful influence over my poor boy. I never saw him look so happy or contented15 before."
All this while Ernest continued to stroke Chester's cheek and his hair, and regarded him with looks of fond affection.
"I am afraid Ernest annoys you," said the professor.
"No; I am glad he likes me. I never had a little brother. I think I should enjoy having one."
"If he could only be always like this," said the professor, regretfully.
Just then Margaret entered. She was the nurse, who had constant charge of Ernest. She paused on the threshold, and her looks showed her surprise.
"Ernest has found a friend, Margaret," said the professor.
"I never saw the like, sir. Come here, Ernest."
The boy shook his head.
"No, I want to stay with him," indicating Chester.
"Did Ernest ever see him before, sir?"
"No; it seems to be a case of love at first sight."
"He has cut me out," said Arthur, smiling. "Ernest, which do you like best, me or him?"
"Him," answered Ernest, touching Chester's cheek.
"I must tell Dr. Gridley of this new manifestation16 on the part of my poor boy," said the professor. "Perhaps he can interpret it."
For twenty minutes Chester retained Ernest on his lap. Then Arthur said:
"Chester must go now, Ernest."
The boy left Chester's lap obediently.
"Will you come and see me again?" he pleaded.
"Yes, I will come," said Chester, and, stooping over, he kissed the boy's cheek. Ernest's face lighted up with a loving smile, and again he kissed Chester's hand.
"Now, Chester, you can come to my den17." Arthur opened the door of a large room, furnished with every comfort.
It was easy to see that it was a boy's apartment. On a table were boxing gloves. Over a desk in a corner was hung the photograph of a football team, of which Arthur was the captain. There was another photograph representing him with gloves on, about to have a set-to with a boy friend.
"Do you box, Chester?" he asked.
"No; I never saw a pair of boxing gloves before."
"I will give you a lesson. Here, put on this pair."
Chester smiled.
"I shall be at your mercy," he said. "I am, perhaps, as strong as you, but I have no science."
"It won't take you long to learn."
So the two boys faced each other. Before he knew what was going to happen, Chester received a light tap on the nose from his new friend.
"I must tell you how to guard yourself. I will be the professor and you the pupil."
Chester soon became interested, and at the end of half an hour his teacher declared that he had improved wonderfully.
"We will have a lesson every time you come to see uncle," he said.
"Then I shall come to see two professors."
"Yes, an old one and young one. Between uncle, Ernest and myself, you will find your time pretty well occupied when you come here."
"I think it a great privilege to come here," said Chester, gratefully.
"And I am glad to have you. I shall have some one to box with, at any rate. Now," he added, with a comical look, "I can't induce my uncle to have a bout18 with me. Indeed, I should be afraid to, for he is so shortsighted he would need to wear spectacles, and I would inevitably19 break them."
Chester could not forbear laughing at the idea of the learned professor having a boxing match with his lively, young nephew.
"That will come in time. I am quite flattered at the opportunity of posing as a teacher. Have you a taste for jewelry21? Just look in this drawer."
Arthur opened one of the small drawers in his bureau, and displayed a varied22 collection of studs, sleeve buttons, collar buttons, scarf pins, etc.
"You might set up a jeweler's store," suggested Chester. "Where did you get them all?"
"I had an uncle who was in the business, and he and other relatives have given me plenty."
"I haven't even a watch."
"No, really? Why, how can you get along without one?"
"I have to."
"Wait a minute."
Arthur opened another drawer, revealing two silver watches, one an open face, the other a hunting watch.
"Take your choice," he said.
"Do you really mean it?"
"Certainly."
"But would your uncle approve of your giving me such a valuable present?"
"My uncle doesn't bother himself about such trifles. I don't use either of these watches. I have a gold one, given me last Christmas."
"Since you are so kind, I think I prefer the hunting watch."
"All right! There it is. Let me set it for you. The chain goes with it, of course."
Chester felt delighted with his present. He had hoped sometime—when he was eighteen, perhaps—to own a watch, but had no expectation of getting one so soon.
"You are a generous friend, Arthur," he said.
"Don't make too much of such a trifle, Chester!" returned the other, lightly.
When Chester said he must go home, Arthur put on his hat and proposed to walk with him part of the way, an offer which Chester gratefully accepted.
They walked over to Broadway, chatting as they went.
All at once, Chester, who had not expected to see anyone he knew, touched Arthur on the arm.
"Do you see that man in front of us?" he asked, pointing to a figure about six feet ahead.
"Yes. What of him?"
"It is our bookkeeper, David Mullins."
"Is it, indeed? Do you know whom he is walking with?"
Chester glanced at a rather flashily dressed individual who was walking arm in arm with the bookkeeper.
"No," he answered.
"It is Dick Ralston," answered Arthur, "one of the most notorious gamblers in the city."
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1
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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2
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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3
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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4
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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5
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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7
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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8
repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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10
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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11
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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12
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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13
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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14
caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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16
manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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17
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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18
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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19
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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20
boxer
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| n.制箱者，拳击手 | |
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21
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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22
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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