“Oh, no,” said Mr. Harkins pleasantly, “that’s not necessary. Herbert seems to be fully capable of taking up for himself.”
“Take care, Harkins,” said the rich man, banging his cane angrily on the floor; “take care; don’t attempt to trifle with me!”
David Harkins paid no attention to this outburst, but sat silent wondering what would come next. His curiosity was soon satisfied.
John Black arose with a gesture of impatience.
“There is no need of my wasting any more time here,” he exclaimed. “I came over to give you a chance to set yourself straight.”
“To set myself straight?” queried Harkins.
“Yes; if you have that boy of yours apologize to Arthur at school to-morrow, we’ll call it quits.”
David Harkins stood looking at the banker as if he had taken leave of his senses. The silence lasted so long that it became embarrassing.
“Come, come, what do you say to my proposal?” asked John Black. “I don’t want to be too hard on your young one. Do as I say and the matter will drop. Your answer.”
“No!” shouted Harkins. “No; a hundred times no! Herbert did perfectly right in thrashing that bully of a son of yours. I’m proud of him for doing it. And if he would dare to apologize for it I’d disown him as a son.”
John Black grew almost livid with rage. He hurried to the door. When he reached it he looked back and shook his cane at Harkins.
“You will regret this insult; blast you, I’ll make you sorry for what you said.”
Mrs. Harkins entered the room just as the banker retired. She hurried over to her husband.
“I heard loud voices, David,” she said. “I am sorry you quarreled with Mr. Black.”
Her husband looked at her fondly. His face was pale, although he was smiling.
“I’m sorry, too,” he said; “but he irritated me beyond endurance. Besides I told him the truth. Between ourselves,” he added, “I’m really proud of Herbert.”
“But you must not tell that to Herbert,” she said anxiously; “it might be the means of spoiling him.”
“Oh, never fear, I won’t tell him; but I won’t be unjust to the boy either. I’ll deal fairly with him.”
Indeed, as has already been indicated, a love of justice was one of the most striking traits of David Harkins’ character, and unconsciously he was doing all in his power to plant the same virtue in the mind and heart of his only son.