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own size and strength. In size, Guy was his equal, but in strength he was quite inferior. This Guy knew full well, and, angry as he was, he by no means lost sight of prudence.

โ€œI donโ€™t choose to dirty my hands with you,โ€ he said. โ€œI shall tell my father, and it would serve you right if he sent you adrift.โ€

In Hectorโ€™s present mood, he would not, perhaps, have cared much if this threat had been carried into execution, but he was not altogether reckless, and he felt that it was best to remain under Mr. Roscoeโ€™s protection until he had had time to investigate the remarkable story which he suspected his reputed uncle had trumped up to serve his own interests.

โ€œTell your father, if you like,โ€ said Hector, quietly. โ€œI donโ€™t know whether he will sustain you or not in your insults, but if he does, then I shall have two opponents instead of one.โ€

โ€œDoes that mean that you will attack my father?โ€ demanded Guy, hoping for an affirmative answer, as it would help him to prejudice his father against our hero.

โ€œNo,โ€ answered Hector, smiling, โ€œI donโ€™t apprehend there will be any necessity, for he wonโ€™t insult me as you have done.โ€

Guy lost no time in seeking his father, and laying the matter before him, inveighing against Hector with great bitterness.

โ€œSo he knocked you down, did he, Guy?โ€ asked Allan Roscoe, thoughtfully.

โ€œYes; he took me unawares, or he couldnโ€™t have done it,โ€ answered Guy, a little ashamed at the avowal.

โ€œWhat did you do?โ€

โ€œIโ€”I told him he should suffer for it.โ€

โ€œWhy did he attack you?โ€

โ€œIt was on account of something I said.โ€

โ€œWhat was it?โ€

Guy reluctantly answered this question, and with correctness.

โ€œIt was your fault for speaking to him when he was feeling sore at making a painful discovery.โ€

โ€œDo you justify him in pitching into me like a big brute?โ€ asked Guy, hastily.

โ€œNo; but still, I think it, was natural, under the circumstances. You should have kept out of his way, and let him alone.โ€

โ€œWonโ€™t you punish him for attacking me?โ€ demanded Guy, indignantly.

โ€œI will speak to him on the subject,โ€ said Allan Roscoe; โ€œand will tell him my opinion of his act.โ€

โ€œThen shanโ€™t I be revenged upon him?โ€ asked Guy, disappointed.

โ€œListen, Guy,โ€ said his father. โ€œIs it no punishment that the boy is stripped of all his possessions, while you step into his place? Henceforth he will be dependent upon me, and later, upon you. He has been hurled down from his proud place as owner of Castle Roscoe, and I have taken his place, as you will hereafter do.โ€

โ€œYes,โ€ said Guy, gleefully; โ€œit will be a proud day when I become master of the estate.โ€

Allan Roscoe was not a specially sensitive man, but this remark of his son jarred upon him.

โ€œYou seem to forget, Guy, that you do not succeed till I am dead!โ€

โ€œYes, I suppose so,โ€ answered Guy, slowly.

โ€œIt almost seems as if you were in a hurry for me to die.โ€

โ€œI didnโ€™t mean that, but itโ€™s natural to suppose that I shall live longer than you do, isnโ€™t it?โ€

โ€œI suppose so,โ€ returned Allan Roscoe, shortly.

โ€œOf course thatโ€™s what I mean.โ€

โ€œThen, since you are so much better off than Hector, you had better be more considerate, and leave him to get over his disappointment as well as he can.โ€

โ€œShall I send in Hector to see you?โ€ asked Guy, as he at length turned to leave the room.

โ€œYes.โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re to go in to my father,โ€ said Guy, reappearing on the lawn; โ€œheโ€™s going to give it to you.โ€

Hector anticipated some such summons, and he had remained in the same spot, too proud to have it supposed that he shrank from the interview.

With a firm, resolute step, he entered the presence of Allan Roscoe.

โ€œI hear you wish to see me, Mr. Roscoe,โ€ he said, manfully.

โ€œYes, Hector; Guy has come to me with complaints of you.โ€

โ€œIf he says I knocked him down for insulting me, he has told you the truth,โ€ said Hector, sturdily.

โ€œThat was the substance of what he said, though he did not admit the insult.โ€

โ€œBut for that I should not have attacked him.โ€

โ€œI do not care to interfere in boysโ€™ quarrels, except in extreme cases,โ€ said Mr. Roscoe. โ€œI am afraid Guy was aggravating, and you were unnecessarily violent.โ€

โ€œIt doesnโ€™t seem to me so,โ€ said Hector.

โ€œSo I regard it. I have warned him not to add by taunts to the poignancy of your disappointment. I request you to remember that Guy is my son, and that I am disposed to follow my brotherโ€™s directions, and provide for and educate you.โ€

Hector bowed and retired. He went out with a more favorable opinion of Allan Roscoe, who had treated the difficulty in a reasonable manner.

Allan Roscoe looked after him as he went out.

โ€œI hate that boy,โ€ he said, to himself; โ€œI temporize from motives of policy, but I mean to tame his haughty spirit yet.โ€





CHAPTER V. PREPARING TO LEAVE HOME.

Allan Roscoeโ€™s remonstrance with the two boys had the effect of keeping the peace between them for the remainder of the week. Guy did not think it prudent to taunt Hector, unless backed up by his father, and he felt that the change in their relative positions was satisfaction enough at present. Besides, his father, in a subsequent conversation, had told Guy that it was his purpose to place Hector in a boarding school, where the discipline would be strict, and where he would be thrashed if he proved rebellious.

โ€œI shall tell Mr. Smith,โ€ he added, โ€œthat the boy needs a strong hand, and that I am not only perfectly willing that he should be punished whenever occasion may call for it, but really desire it.โ€

โ€œGood, good!โ€ commended Guy, gleefully. โ€œI hope old Smithโ€™ll lay it on good.โ€

โ€œI presume he will,โ€ said Allan Roscoe, smiling in sympathy with

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