Part 14 (1/2)

”I do say it, and I mean it,” replied Mr. Howland, fixing his eyes rebukingly upon his wife.

Mrs. Howland answered nothing. But her purpose to stand between her unrelenting husband and wandering son, was none the less fixed; and in her countenance Mr. Howland read this distinctly. Accordingly, so soon as the latter had left the house, she took food to Andrew, who still remained in his room, at the same time that she expressed to him her earnest wish that he would meet the family at the tea-table in the evening.

”I don't want to meet father,” he replied to this. ”He will only frown upon me.”

”He is, of course, very much fretted at this occurrence,” said the mother. ”And you cannot much wonder at it, Andrew.”

”He is more to blame than I am,” was answered in an indignant tone.

”Don't speak of your father in that way, my son,” said the mother, a gentle reproof in her voice.

”I speak as I feel, mother. Is it not so?”

An argument on this subject Mrs. Howland would not hold with her boy, and she therefore changed it; but she did not cease her appeals to both his reason and his feelings, until he yielded to her wishes.

At supper time he joined the family at table--it was his first meeting with his father since morning. Oh, what an intense desire did he feel for a kind reception from his stern parent! It seemed to him that such a reception would soften everything harsh and rebellious, and cause him to throw himself at his feet, and make the humblest confessions of error, and the most truthful promise of future well doing. Alas! for the repentant boy! no such reception awaited him. His father did not so much as turn his eyes upon his son, and, during the meal, maintained a frigid silence. Andrew ate but a few mouthfuls. He had no appet.i.te for food. On leaving the table, he went into one of the parlors, whither he was followed in a little while, by his younger brother, Edward, who was, by nature, almost as hard and unsympathsizing as his father. It was the first time, on that day, that the two boys had been alone.

”Set a house on fire!” said Edward, in a half-sneering, half-censorious, tantalizing voice.

”If you say that again, I'll knock you down!” fell sharply from the lips of Andrew, in whom his father's repulsive coldness was beginning to awaken bad feelings.

”Set a house on fire!” repeated Edward, in a tone still more aggravating.

The words had scarcely left his tongue, ere the open hand of his brother came along side of his head, with a force that knocked him across the room. At this instant Mr. Howland entered. He made no inquiry as to the cause of the blow he saw struck, but took it for granted that it was an unprovoked a.s.sault of Andrew upon his brother. Yielding to the impulse of the moment, he caught the former by the arm, in a fierce grip, and struck him with his open hand, as he had struck his brother, repeating the blow three or four times.

Andrew neither shrunk from the blows, cried out, nor offered the smallest resistance, but stood firmly, until his incensed father had satisfied his outraged feelings.

”You forgot, I suppose, that I could strike also?” said the latter angrily, when he released his son from the tight grasp, with which he held him.

”No sir,” replied Andrew, with a calmness that surprized, yet still more incensed his father; ”I thought nothing about it. I punished Edward as he deserved; and if he says to me what he did just now, will repeat the punishment, if it cost me my life.”

”Silence!” cried Mr. Howland.

”I said nothing but the truth,” spoke up Edward.

”What did you say?” inquired the father.

”I told him that he'd set a house on fire.”

”And lied when he said it,” calmly and deliberately spoke Andrew.

”Silence! I'll have no such language in my presence!” angrily retorted Mr. Howland.

”It is bad enough to be accused falsely by a lying policeman,” said Andrew, ”but to have the charge repeated by my own brother is more than I can or will bear. And I warn Edward, in your presence, not to try the experiment again. If he does he will not escape so lightly.”

”Silence, I say!”

Andrew remained silent.

”Edward, leave the room,” said Mr. Howland. There was little sternness in his voice, as he thus spoke to his favorite boy.

The lad retired. For several minutes Mr. Howland walked the floor, and Andrew who had seated himself, waited in a calm, defiant spirit, for him to renew the interview. It was at length done in these words--