"Where is Mrs. Oakley, Jane?" he asked of a servant whom he met in the hall.

"She's in the sitting-room¹, Master John," said Jane. "She wants to see you immediately."

"Very well; I'll go in."

He heard steps behind him, and, turning, found that Ben was following him.

"He wants to hear me scolded," thought John. "However, I won't take any notice."

Mrs. Oakley was sitting in a rocking-chair. She looked up with a frown as John entered. She had never liked him, but since Ben had declared, falsely, as we know, that John had no more respect for her than a servant, this dislike was greatly increased.

 

[37] She was inwardly determined² to make his life as uncomfortable as possible.

"Well, sir," she said, "so you have come at last."

"I came as soon as Ben told me you wished to see me," said John. "I only waited till I had put my horse into the stable."

"His horse!" repeated Ben, by way of calling his mother's attention to the claim to ownership expressed in those words.

"I suppose I ought to consider it lucky that you paid any attention to my words," said Mrs. Oakley.

"I hope I have not failed in proper respect," said John.

"It was very respectful in you to ride off with the horse, when I had told Ben he might use it."

"It was my horse," said John, firmly. "If Ben wanted it, he might ask me."

"Ask you, indeed!" repeated Ben, scornfully; "you won't catch me doing that."

"It was enough that I told him that he might ride. Didn't he tell you that?"

"Yes."

"Then what right had you to refuse?"

"The horse is mine," said John. "It was given me by my father."

"He allowed you to use it."

[38]

"He gave it to me. At the same time he gave Ben a watch, which he is wearing now. He has no more right to demand my horse than I have to claim his watch."

"You seem to forget," said Mrs. Oakley, coldly, "that your father saw fit to leave me his property. The horse forms a part of that property, and belongs to me, and it is for me to say who shall ride on it. Ben, you may ride on the horse to-morrow."

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