Peyton was too self-satisfied to be sensitive, so he took the rebuff with a laugh. “Oh, no,” he answered. “It is you that I’m troubled about. Knowing nothing of planting you need a capable overseer more than anybody else does, and here you’ve sent away the best one in the county without even consulting anybody.” “I did not need to consult anybody,” answered Arthur, “in order to know that I did not want that man on my plantation.” “Oh, of course! But you can’t get another overseer at this time of year, you know.” “On the whole, I don’t think I want another at any time of year.” “You imagine perhaps that you know something about planting. I’ve known other young men to make the same mistake.” “Perhaps I can learn,” answered Arthur in placid tones. “I have learned some things quite as difficult in my life.” “But you don’t know anything about planting, and if you try it without an overseer you’ll find your account at your commission merchant’s distressingly short at the end of the year.” “I don’t know about that,” broke in John Meaux. “You predicted the same thing in my case, you remember, Mr. Peyton, when I came back after graduating at West Point, and yet I’ve managed to keep some hams in my meat house for fifteen years now,--and I never had an overseer.” Ignoring Meaux’s interruption Peyton said to Arthur: “And you know you’ve got a law-suit on your hands.” “Have I? I didn’t know it.” “Why, of course, Williams will sue. You see he was engaged for the year, and the contract lasts till January.” “Who made the contract?” asked Arthur. “Well, I did--acting for your uncle.” “Had you my uncle’s power of attorney to bind him to a year’s arrangement?” “Of course not. He was ill and I merely did a neighbor’s part.” “Then suppose Williams should sue you instead of me? You see it is you who are liable for non-fulfilment of that contract. You bargained with this man to serve you for a year as overseer on my plantation, and I have declined to accept the arrangement. If he has a right of action against anybody, it is against you. However, I don’t think he will sue you, for I have paid him his wages for the full year. Fortunately I happened to have money enough in bank for that. There is the voluntary--let’s go into church.” Arthur Brent entered the place of service, one or two of the gentlemen following him. He had made an enemy of Madison Peyton--an enemy who would never admit his enmity but would never lose an opportunity to indulge it. VIII A DINNER AT BRANTON