Part 5 (1/2)
”He's just come into the town, but I'll tell you who he is. He's the son of that woman that comes to work for you once a week.”
”Mrs. Burke?”
”Yes; he told me that his name was Andy Burke.”
”He ought to know his place too well to be impudent to one in your position.”
”So I think.”
”I shall speak to Mrs. Burke about her son's bad behavior.”
”I wish you'd discharge her. That's a good way to punish the boy.”
”I shouldn't object to doing that, G.o.dfrey, but Mrs. Burke is a capital hand at ironing s.h.i.+rts. Yours and your father's never looked so nice as they have since she has been here.”
G.o.dfrey looked a little discontented. Being essentially mean, he thought it would be an excellent plan to strike the son through the mother.
”You might threaten her, mother, a little. Tell her to make her boy behave himself, or you'll discharge her.”
”I will certainly speak to her on the subject, G.o.dfrey.”
At the table Mrs. Preston introduced the subject of G.o.dfrey's wrongs.
”I am surprised, Mr. Preston, that you took part against G.o.dfrey when he was rudely a.s.saulted this morning.”
”I thought G.o.dfrey in the wrong, my dear. That was my reason.”
”You generally appear to think your own son in the wrong. You are ready to take part with any stranger against him,” said Mrs. Preston, in a complaining manner.
”I don't think you are quite right just there,” said her husband, good-humoredly. ”I must say, however, that G.o.dfrey generally is in the wrong.”
”You are very unjust to him.”
”I don't mean to be. I would be glad to praise him, but he is so overbearing to those whom he considers his inferiors, that I am frequently ashamed of his manner of treating others.”
”The boy has some reason to feel proud. He must maintain his position.”
”What is his position?”
”I don't think you need to ask. As our son he is ent.i.tled to a degree of consideration.”
”He will receive consideration enough if he deserves it, but this is a republic, and all are supposed to be on an equality.”
Mrs. Preston tossed her head.
”That's well enough to say, but don't you consider yourself above a man that goes round sawing wood for a living?”
”At any rate I would treat him with courtesy. Because I am richer, and have a better education, it is no reason why I should treat him with contempt.”