Herbert Carter's Legacy; Or, the Inventor's Son by Jr. Horatio Alger (top reads .TXT) 📕

“Did James tell you this?”

“He did; and he is a boy of truth.”

“But perhaps he did not look upon it as a provocation when he called Herbert and his mother low.”

“He didn't say anything about that.”

“I dare say not.”

“And even if he did use the word, it would not justify Carter in brutally assaulting him.”

“I confess I don't agree with you there, Squire Leech. I hate brutality as much as anyone and an unprovoked assault I certainly look upon as brutal. But for a boy to resent an insult directed against his mother is quite a different matter, and if Herbert had not acted as he did, I should have been ashamed of him.”

Squire Leech flushed all over his face. This certainly was plain speaking.

“You have probably been misled by Carter's statement. I don't believe my boy did anything, or said anything, that Carter had a right to complain of.”

“From what I have observed of your son, I regret to differ with you.”

“You are prejudiced against James.”

“I was not to begin with; but what I have seen of him, certainly, has not prepossessed me in his favor. He seems disposed to be insolent to those whom he fancies beneath him in social position.”

“If you refer to the Carter boy,” said the squire, pompously, “I should say that James is right in regarding him as a social inferior.”

“I won't argue that point, or consider how far the possession of money, which is certainly the only point in which Herbert is inferior, justifies your son in looking down upon him. I will only say that he has no right to insult his social inferiors.”

The discussion had assumed such a different character from what the squire anticipated, that he found it difficult to come to the request he had in view. But he did it.

“I am certainly astonished, Mr. Cameron, to find you so prejudiced against my son. If you should find you had done him an injustice, and that the Carter boy was really the aggressor last evening, will you be willing to discharge him from your employment?”

“If I find Herbert justifies your denunciations and his assault was unprovoked, I will discharge him.”

“Then you can do it at once. You have my son's word for it.”

“And I have Herbert's word for the contrary.”

“Between the two, I believe James.”

“Does James deny that he called Herbert and his mother low?”

“I have not asked him.”

“If you will do so and bring me his assurance that he said nothing of the kind, I will examine Herbert again and try to get at the truth.”

“Very well; I will put the question to him.”

Squire Leech did so on his return home.

“I don't know but I called him something of the kind,” James admitted; “but it's true, isn't it?”

“As to that, the boy certainly acted in a very low manner. But you shouldn't have called him so.”

“I couldn't help it, when I heard him boasting of Mr. Cameron's having taken supper at his house. Won't Cameron discharge him?”

“No,” said the squire, shortly; “he is infatuated about; that boy.”

“Suppose we cut both of them?”

“It won't do, James. Mr. Cameron's father is a wealthy manufacturer—much richer than I am. We must keep on good terms with him, but we needn't notice the Carter boy. Some day he and his mother will be in my power.”

“I hope so, father. I want to bring him to his knees, the proud beggar!”

It was a bitter pill for James to swallow, seeing his rival high in the favor of the young collegian.