The speaker was a boy of fifteen, handsomely dressed, and, to judge from his air and tone, a person of considerable consequence, in his own opinion, at least. The person addressed was employed in the stable of his father, Colonel Anthony Preston, and so inferior in social condition that Master Godfrey always addressed him in imperious tones.
John looked up and answered, respectfully:
"Master Godfrey, your horse is sick of the disease, and your father left orders that he wasn't to go out on no account."
"It's my horse," said Godfrey; "I intend to take him out."
"Maybe it's yours, but your father paid for him."
"None of your impudence1, John," answered Godfrey, angrily. "Am I master, or are you, I should like to know!"
"Neither, I'm thinking," said John, with a twinkle in his eye. "It's your father that's the master."
"I'm master of the horse, anyway, so saddle him at once."
"The colonel would blame me," objected John.
"If you don't, I'll report you and get you dismissed."
"I'll take the risk, Master Godfrey," said the servant, good-humoredly. "The colonel won't be so unreasonable2 as to send me away for obeying his own orders."
Here John was right, and Godfrey knew it, and this vexed3 him the more. He had an inordinate4 opinion of himself and his own consequence, and felt humiliated5 at being disobeyed by a servant, without being able to punish him for his audacity6. This feeling was increased by the presence of a third party, who was standing7 just outside the fence.
As this third party is our hero, I must take a separate paragraph to describe him. He was about the age of Godfrey, possibly a little shorter and stouter8. He had a freckled9 face, full of good humor, but at the same time resolute10 and determined11. He appeared to be one who had a will of his own, but not inclined to interfere12 with others, though ready to stand up for his own rights. In dress he compared very unfavorably with the young aristocrat13, who was biting his lips with vexation. In fact, though he is my hero, his dress was far from heroic. He had no vest, and his coat was ragged14, as well as his pants. He had on a pair of shoes two or three times too large for him. They had not been made to order, but had been given him by a gentleman of nearly double his size, and fitted him too much. He wore a straw hat, for it was summer, but the brim was semi-detached, and a part of his brown hair found its way through it.
Now Godfrey was just in the mood for picking a quarrel with somebody, and as there was no excuse for quarreling any further with John, he was rather glad to pitch into the young stranger.
"Who are you?" he demanded, in his usual imperious tone, and with a contraction15 of the brow.
"Then what business have you leaning against my fence?" again demanded Godfrey, imperiously.
"Shure, I didn't know it was your fence."
"Then you know now. Quit leaning against it."
"Why should I, now? I don't hurt it, do I?"
"No matter—I told you to go away. We don't want any beggars here."
"What are you but a beggar?"
"Shure, I'm a gintleman of indepindent fortune."
"You look like it," said Godfrey, disdainfully. "Where do you keep it?"
"Here!" said the Irish boy, tapping a bundle which he carried over his shoulder, wrapped in a red cotton handkerchief, with a stick thrust through beneath the knot.
"What's your name?"
"Andy Burke. What's yours?"
"Don't you? Then what made you ask me?"
"That's different. You are only an Irish boy."
"And who are you?"
"I am the only son of Colonel Anthony Preston," returned Godfrey, impressively.
"Are you, now? I thought you was a royal duke, or maybe Queen Victoria's oldest boy."
"Fellow, you are becoming impertinent."
"Faith, I didn't mean it. You look so proud and gintale that it's jist a mistake I made."
"You knew that we had no dukes in America," said Godfrey, suspiciously.
"If we had, now, you'd be one of them," said Andy.
"Why? What makes you say so?"
"You're jist the picture of the Earl of Barleycorn's ildest son that I saw before I left Ireland."
Godfrey possessed19 so large a share of ridiculous pride that he felt pleased with the compliment, though he was not clear about its sincerity20.
"Where do you live?" he asked, with a slight lowering of his tone.
"Where do I live? Shure, I don't live anywhere now, but I'm going to live in the village. My mother came here a month ago."
"Why didn't you come with her?"
"I was workin' with a farmer, but the work gave out and I came home. Maybe I'll find work here."
"I think I know where your mother lives," said John, who had heard the conversation. "She lives up the road a mile or so, in a little house with two rooms. It's where old Jake Barlow used to live."
"Thank you, sir. I guess I'll be goin', then, as my mother'll be expectin' me. Do you know if she's well?" and a look of anxiety came over the boy's honest, good-natured face.
The question was addressed to John, but of this Godfrey was not quite sure. He thought the inquiry21 was made of him, and his pride was touched.
"What should I know of your mother, you beggar?" he said, with a sneer22. "I don't associate with such low people."
"Do you mane my mother?" said Andy, quickly, and he, too, looked angry and threatening.
"Yes, I do. What are you going to do about it?" demanded Godfrey.
"You'd better take it back," said Andy, his good-humored face now dark with passion.
"Do you think I am afraid of such a beggar as you?" sneered23 Godfrey. "You appear to forget that you are speaking to a gentleman."
"Shure, I didn't know it," returned Andy, hotly. "You're no gentleman if you insult my mother, and if you'll come out here for a minute I'll give you a bating."
"John," said Godfrey, angrily, "will you drive that beggar away?"
Now, John's sympathies were rather with Andy than with his young master. He had no great admiration24 for Godfrey, having witnessed during the year he had been in his father's employ too much of the boy's arrogance25 and selfishness to feel much attachment26 for him. Had he taken any part in the present quarrel, he would have preferred espousing27 the cause of the Irish boy; but that would not have been polite, and he therefore determined to preserve his neutrality.
"That ain't my business, Master Godfrey," he said. "You must fight your own battles."
"Go away from here," said Godfrey, imperiously advancing toward that part of the fence against which Andy Burke was leaning.
"Will you take back what you said agin' my mother?"
"No, I won't."
"Then you're a blackguard, if you are a rich man's son."
The blood rushed to Godfrey's face on the instant. This was a palpable insult. What! he, a rich man's son, the only son and heir of Colonel Anthony Preston, with his broad acres and ample bank account—he to be called a blackguard by a low Irish boy. His passion got the better of him, and he ran through the gate, his eyes flashing fire, bent28 on exterminating29 his impudent30 adversary31.
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1
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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2
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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4
inordinate
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| adj.无节制的；过度的 | |
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humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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7
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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8
stouter
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| 粗壮的( stout的比较级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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9
freckled
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| adj.雀斑；斑点；晒斑；（使）生雀斑v.雀斑，斑点( freckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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12
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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13
aristocrat
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| n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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contraction
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| n.缩略词，缩写式，害病 | |
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16
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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18
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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19
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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23
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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espousing
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| v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的现在分词 ) | |
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28
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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29
exterminating
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| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的现在分词 ) | |
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30
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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31
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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