"I don't mean to be. I would be glad to praise him, but he is so overbearing to those whom he considers his inferiors, that I am frequently ashamed of his manner of treating others." "The boy has some reason to feel proud. He must maintain his position." "What is his position?" "I don't think you need to ask. As our son he is entitled to a degree of consideration." "He will receive consideration enough if he deserves it, but this is a republic, and all are supposed to be on an equality." Mrs. Preston tossed her head. "That's well enough to say, but don't you consider yourself above a man that goes round sawing wood for a living?" "At any rate I would treat him with courtesy. Because I am richer, and have a better education, it is no reason why I should treat him with contempt." "Then I don't share your sentiments," said Mrs. Preston. "I am thankful that I know my position better. I mean to uphold the dignity of the family, and I hope my son will do the same." Colonel Preston shrugged his shoulders as his wife swept from the room. He knew of old her sentiments on this subject, and he was aware that she was not likely to become a convert to his more democratic ideas. "I am afraid she will spoil Godfrey," he thought. "The boy is getting intolerable. I am glad this Irish boy gave him a lesson. He seems a fine-spirited lad. I will help him if I can." "Ellen," said Mrs. Preston the next morning, "when Mrs. Burke comes let me know." "Yes, ma'am." "She's come," announced Ellen, half an hour later. Mrs. Preston rose from her seat and went into the laundry. "Good-morning, Mrs. Preston," said Mrs. Burke. "Good-morning," returned the other, stiffly. "Mrs. Burke, I hear that your son behaved very badly to my Godfrey yesterday." "It isn't like Andy, ma'am," said the mother, quietly. "He's a good, well-behaved lad." "Godfrey tells me that he made a brutal assault upon him, quite forgetting his superior position." "Are you sure Master Godfrey didn't strike him first?" asked the mother. "Even if he had, your son shouldn't have struck back." "Why not?" asked Mrs. Burke, her eyes flashing with spirit, meek as she generally was. "Because it was improper," said Mrs. Preston, decisively. "I don't see that, ma'am. Andy isn't the boy to stand still and be struck." "Do I understand," said Mrs. Preston, in a freezing tone, "that you uphold your son in his atrocious conduct?" "Yes, ma'am. I stand up for Andy, for he's a good boy, and if he struck Master Godfrey it was because he was struck first." "That is enough," said Mrs. Preston, angrily. "I shall not require your services after to-day, Mrs. Burke." "Just as you like, ma'am," said Mrs. Burke, with quiet pride, but she thought, with a sinking heart, of the gap which this would make in her scanty income. CHAPTER V A PROFITABLE JOB