"I've got something to say to you, Mrs. Huxter. You needn't trouble yourself to take that boy's part. He is a proud-spirited young rascal, and he needs taking down."
"He seems to me a very good sort of boy," said his wife.
"That shows what a good judge you are," said Mr. Huxter, with a sneer. "He's a young bully, and was all the time fighting with Ben."
"I always thought Ben inclined to be a bully," said Mrs. Huxter.
"Well, he is a proud young upstart," admitted his uncle, who had not forgiven Ben's disdain. "Got some of the Brayton blood in him. But the other's just as bad. It's six of one and half a dozen of the other. However, wife," pursued Mr. Huxter, with a change of tone, "it's likely to be a good thing for us. We're to have six dollars a week for boarding young Oakley."
"That's very good pay. I really think we ought to make him comfortable."
"He won't get much favor from me. I promised Jane I'd break his proud spirit, and I'm going to do it. I shall set him to work next week in the shop."
"Set him to work while we are getting six dollars a week for his board!" exclaimed Mrs. Huxter, in astonishment.
"But his work alone will more than pay his board."
"But I don't think, Mr. Huxter, you have the right to do it."
"That shows how little you know about it. Isn't Jane his guardian?"
"Of course she does. She told me I might do it."
"And she will be willing to pay his board besides?"
"Yes. You see I represented to her that now she was a rich woman she ought to do something for her only brother, and that's the way she's going to do it. It's a good thing for both of us. She gets rid of a troublesome young rascal, and I get handsomely paid for taking charge of him. It's a very simple arrangement."
"I can't seem to think it's right," said Mrs. Huxter, slowly.
"Then you're a fool," said Mr. Huxter, not very politely.
"I'm afraid there'll be trouble," thought Mrs. Huxter, nervously, but she did not reply.
MR. HUXTER MAKES A DISCOVERY, AND SO DOES JOHN.
John felt that he was in a difficult situation, and he went out, not so much for a walk, as to gain time to consider what he should do under the circumstances. He guessed without much difficulty the reason which had led to his banishment. Mrs. Oakley did not like him, he was aware, and it was natural that she should take measures to remove him from the house. But John felt that, though this was one reason, it was not the principal reason. He was satisfied that she wished to have him out of the way while she was looking for the will. But since the discovery of the will could only be of advantage to him, and strip her of two-thirds of the property, he was forced to the conclusion that, if she found it, it would be only to destroy it, or put it away where he would never be likely to find it. He was thoroughly convinced of this, but he asked himself in vain what he could do under the circumstances. There he was at a loss. He could not return and force Mrs. Oakley to keep him at home, or if so, he well knew that she would manage to make his position very uncomfortable. Mrs. Oakley certainly had every advantage over him. It would not be prudent, he knew, to reveal his suspicion, for he had no proof to bring forward. What should he do?