Part 47 (1/2)

”I didn't think of that,” he said, sympathetically. ”No doubt you are right.”

Mrs. Preston lost no time in applying for letters of administration.

”As soon as I get them,” she said to herself, ”I will lose no time in ejecting that Irishwoman from the house my husband bought for her.

I'll make her pay rent, too, for the time she has been in it.”

CHAPTER x.x.xII MRS. PRESTON'S REVENGE

Andy Burke was pa.s.sing the house of Mrs. Preston, within a month after Colonel Preston's death, when G.o.dfrey, who had not gone back to boarding school, showed himself at the front door.

”Come here!” said G.o.dfrey, in an imperious tone.

Andy turned his head, and paused.

”Who are you talking to?” he asked.

”To you, to be sure.”

”What's wanted?”

”My mother wants to see you.”

”All right; I'll come in.”

”You can go around to the back door,” said G.o.dfrey, who seemed to find pleasure in making himself disagreeable.

”I know I can, but I don't mean to,” said Andy, walking up to the front entrance, where G.o.dfrey was standing.

”The back door is good enough for you,” said the other, offensively.

”I shouldn't mind going to it if you hadn't asked me,” said Andy.

”Just move away, will you?”

G.o.dfrey did not stir.

”Very well,” said Andy, turning; ”tell your mother you would not let me in.”

”Come in, if you want to,” said G.o.dfrey, at length, moving aside.

”I don't care much about it. I only came to oblige your mother.”

”Maybe you won't like what she has to say,” said G.o.dfrey, with a disagreeable smile.

”I'll soon know,” said Andy.

He entered the house, and G.o.dfrey called upstairs: ”Mother, the Burke boy is here.”

”I'll be down directly,” was the answer. ”He can sit down.”