Only an Irish Boy Part 23

"How did he appear?"

"He looked a little nervous," said G.o.dfrey, speaking not according to facts, but according to his wishes.

"I thought so," said Mrs. Preston, with a look of satisfaction. "He will find that he has made a mistake in treating you so outrageously."

"Give it to him right and left, mother," said G.o.dfrey, with more force than elegance.

"You might express yourself more properly, my son," said Mrs. Preston.

"I shall endeavor to impress upon his mind the impropriety of his conduct."

At half-past seven, Mr. Stone rang the bell at Mrs. Preston's door, and was ushered in without delay.

"Good-evening, Mrs. Preston," he said, bowing. "Your son brought me a note this afternoon, requesting me to call. I have complied with your request."

"Be seated, Mr. Stone," said the lady frigidly, not offering her hand.

"Thank you," said the teacher, with equal ceremony, and did as invited.

"I suppose you can guess the object of my request," said Mrs. Preston.

"I think you stated it in your note."

"I desire an explanation of the manner in which you treated my son this forenoon, Mr. Stone."

"Pardon me, madam; your son is in the room."

"Well, sir?"

"I decline discussing the matter before him."

"I cannot understand why you should object to his presence."

"I am his teacher, and he is subject to my authority. You apparently desire to find fault with the manner in which I have exercised that authority. It is improper that the discussion upon this point should take place before him."

"May I stay in the room, mother?" asked G.o.dfrey, who was alarmed lest he should miss the spectacle of Mr. Stone's humiliation.

"I really don't see why not," returned his mother.

"Madam," said Mr. Stone, rising, "I will bid you good-evening."

"What, sir; before we have spoken on the subject?"

"I distinctly decline to speak before your son, for the reasons already given."

"This is very singular, sir. However, I will humor your whims.

G.o.dfrey, you may leave the room."

"Can't I stay?"

"I am compelled to send you out."

G.o.dfrey went out, though with a very ill grace.

"Now, madam," said the teacher, "I have no objection to telling you that I first reprimanded your son for brutal treatment of a younger schoolmate, and then forcibly carried him back to his seat, when he endeavored to leave the schoolroom without my permission."

It was Mrs. Preston's turn to be surprised. She had expected to overawe the teacher, and instead of that found him firmly and independently defending his course.

"Mr. Stone," she said, "my son tells me that you praised an Irish boy in your school for a violent and brutal a.s.sault which he made upon him."

"I did not praise him for that. I praised him for promptly interfering to prevent G.o.dfrey from abusing a boy smaller and younger than himself."

"G.o.dfrey had good cause for punis.h.i.+ng the boy you refer to. He acted in self-defense."

"He has doubtless misrepresented the affair to you, madam, as he did to me."

"You take this Andrew Burke's word against his?"

"I form my judgment upon the testimony of an eyewitness, and from what I know of your son's character."

"From your own statement, this low Irish boy----"

"To whom do you refer, madam?"

"To the Irish boy."

"I have yet to learn that he is low."

"Do you mean to compare him with my son?"

"In wealth, no. Otherwise, you mustn't blame me for saying that I hold him entirely equal in respectability, and in some important points his superior."

"Really, sir, your language is most extraordinary."

At this moment there was an interruption. G.o.dfrey had been listening at the keyhole, but finding that difficult, had opened the door slightly, but in his interest managed to stumble against it. The door flew open, and he fell forward upon his knees on the carpet of the sitting-room.

CHAPTER XV MRS. PRESTON'S DISCOMFITURE

G.o.dfrey rose to his feet, red with mortification. His mother looked disconcerted. Mr. Stone said nothing, but glanced significantly from G.o.dfrey to Mrs. Preston.

"What is the matter, G.o.dfrey?" she asked, rather sharply.

"It was an accident," said G.o.dfrey, rather sheepishly.

"You can go out and shut the door, and take care not to let such an accident happen again. For some unknown reason, Mr. Stone prefers that you should not be present, and, therefore, you must go."