Part 4 (1/2)
”What's his name?”
”I heard his father call him G.o.dfrey.”
”What, G.o.dfrey Preston?” exclaimed Mrs. Burke in something like consternation.
”Yes, that's the name. He lives in a big house a mile up the road.”
”What made you fight with him, Andy?” inquired his mother, anxiously.
”He began it.”
”What could he have against you? He didn't know you.”
”He thought as I only was an Irish boy he could insult me, and call me names, but I was too much for him.”
”I hope you didn't hurt him?”
”I throwed him twice, mother, but then his father came up and that put a stop to the fight.”
”And what did his father say?”
”He took my part, mother, when he found out how it was, and scolded his son. Shure, he's a gentleman.”
”Yes, Colonel Preston is a gentleman.”
”And that's where he isn't like his son, I'm thinkin'.”
”No. G.o.dfrey isn't like his father. It's his mother he favors.”
”Faith, and I don't call it favoring,” said Andy. Is the old lady as ugly and big-feelin' as the son?”
”She's rather a hard woman, Andy. I go up to work there one day every week.”
”Do you, mother?” said Andy, not wholly pleased to hear that his mother was employed by the mother of his young enemy.
”Yes, Andy.”
”What is it you do?”
”I help about the ironing. To-morrow's my day for going there.”
”I wish you could stay at home, and not go out to work, mother,” said Andy, soberly. ”You don't look strong, mother, dear. I'm afraid you're not well.”
”Oh, yes, Andy, I am quite well. I shall be better, too, now that you are at home. I missed you very much. It seemed lonely without you.”
”I must find out some way to earn money, mother,” said Andy. ”I'm young and strong, and I ought to support you.”
”You can help me, Andy,” said Mrs. Burke, cheerfully.