Part 30 (1/2)
The squire entered the garden by a side gate, and, hurrying to the front door, knocked sharply.
The loud summons startled Mrs. Nelson, and made her break off abruptly in her reading. With the lamp in her hand, she opened the door to see who her late visitor was.
”Good-evening, Mrs. Nelson,” said the squire, stiffly.
”Why, good-evening, squire,” she returned, in great surprise.
Never before had the great man condescended to visit her humble abode.
”I called on a little matter of business,” he added, rather awkwardly, for he had expected an invitation to enter.
”Indeed! Won't you come in, then?”
”I will.”
The squire stepped in, and after closing the door the widow led the way into the parlor. She placed the lamp down, and offered the squire the easiest chair in the room. He threw himself into it with a loud ahem, and dropped his silk hat on a stand near by.
”You came on a little matter of business, you say?” she began, hesitatingly, as he remained silent for a minute.
”Yes, I did.” He cleared his throat again. ”Mrs. Nelson, where is your son Ralph?”
”He has gone to the store on an errand for me. He will be back shortly.”
”Mrs. Nelson, do you know that that boy is going to get both himself and you into a good deal of trouble?” went on the great man, pompously.
”Oh, I hope not, squire,” she cried, in alarm.
”If he keeps on, he will end in State prison!”
”Why, what has he done now?”
”I do not refer to any new action on his part. I refer to this post office affair.”
Mrs. Nelson breathed easier. For the moment she had feared some new difficulty between Ralph and Percy.
”I thought that matter had pa.s.sed,” she said.
”Pa.s.sed! I rather imagine not, madam!
”I mean so far as my son is concerned. They had him up for examination, and he was honorably discharged.”
”That committee of post office officials didn't know its business,” growled Squire Paget, wrathfully. ”It was worse than a lot of old hens getting together.”
”That may be your opinion, squire. It is not the opinion of all the folks, however.”
”Madam, your son had something to do with that robbery!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the great man, springing to his feet. ”He cannot fool me, no matter how much he fools the other Westville people.”
”Ralph had absolutely nothing to do with it!” returned the widow, warmly.
”You might as well say your own son was implicated.”