"I hate you!" he blazed out in sudden fury. "Oh, mother, why did you marry him?"
This, it must be admitted, was not a very cordial welcome, and the boy's anger was reflected in the face of his new step-father, who bit his nether lip, and glared at our hero with wrathful eyes.
"You are an impudent cub!" he exclaimed. "I won't forget the way you have received me."
"Oh, James, forgive him!" pleaded the mother. "He doesn't realize what he says. He will get over it to-morrow."
"I shall never get over it, mother!" said Robert. "If you must marry again, why at least didn't you marry a gentleman?"
"I'll get even with you for this, young man!" exclaimed Talbot furiously.
Mrs. Talbot screamed and sat upon a couch. Robert seized his hat, and without waiting for dinner, dashed out of the house.
"You didn't tell me what a violent temper your son had," said James Talbot, when Robert had left the house.
"He has a good temper, James, but I suppose he was taken by surprise."
"I'll take him by surprise!" said Talbot spitefully. "He'll find out that he has a master."
"No, James," pleaded Mrs. Talbot. "Remember that he is my son."
"I will treat him well if he treats me well, not otherwise. He has the temper of a fiend."
"I am so sorry," said the bride, and she indulged in weak tears. "I looked forward with so much pleasure to this day, and now----"
"Perhaps you are sorry you married me," said Talbot, biting his mustache.
"Oh no, not that, but Robert has gone away without his dinner."
"Serves him right. When he gets hungry enough he will come back."
"Promise, James, that you will overlook his rudeness."
James Talbot was silent a moment, and then constrained his harsh features into a smile, which he tried to make pleasant.
"I will remember that he is your son, Sarah," he said, softening his voice. "It will not be my fault if I do not teach him to like me."
"And now, my love, let me remind you that I am hungry. Won't you order dinner served? Really, I am almost famished."
"Jane, you may put the dinner on the table," said Mrs. Talbot, looking relieved.
"And where is Master Robert, Mrs. Frost--no, I mean Mrs. Talbot?"
"He has gone out for a short time. If he is not back before long, you may save some dinner for him."