CHAPTER XIV.
TWO UNSATISFACTORY INTERVIEWS.
Halbert's first emotion was surprise, his second was gratification. Hisrival could no longer enjoy the boat which he had envied him. Not onlythat, but he would get into trouble with Mr. Paine on account of thedamage which it had received. Being under his care, it was his duty tokeep it in good condition.
"I wonder how it happened?" thought Halbert. "Won't the young beggar bein a precious scrape when it's found out? Most likely he won't let Mr.Paine know."
In this thought he judged Robert by himself. Straightway the plansuggested itself of going to the lawyer himself and informing him ofRobert's delinquency. It would be a very agreeable way of taking revengehim. The plan so pleased him that he at once directed his steps towardMr. Paine's office. On the way he overtook Hester Paine, the young ladyon whose account he was chiefly incensed against Robert. Being asdesirous as ever of standing in the young lady's good graces, hehurriedly advanced to her side, and lifting his hat with an air ofceremonious politeness, he said:
"Good-morning, Hester."
Hester Paine was not particularly well pleased with the meeting. She hadbeen made acquainted by her brother with the quarrel between Halbert andRobert, and the mean revenge which the former had taken in procuring thedismissal of the latter from the factory. Having a partiality forRobert, this was not likely to recommend his enemy in her eyes.
"Good-morning, Mr. Davis," she said, with cool politeness.
"You are very ceremonious this morning, Miss Hester," said Halbert, wholiked well enough to be called "Mr." by others, but not by Hester.
"Am I?" asked Hester, indifferently. "How so?"
"You called me Mr. Davis."
"That's your name, isn't it?"
"I am not called so by my intimate friends."
"No, I suppose not," said Hester, thus disclaiming the title.
Halbert bit his lips. He was not in love, not because he was too young,but because he was too selfish to be in love with anybody excepthimself. But he admired Hester, and the more she slighted him the morehe was determined to force her to like him. He did, however, feel alittle piqued at her behavior, and that influenced his next words.
"Perhaps you'd rather have the factory boy walking beside you," he said,with not very good judgment, if he wanted to recommend himself to her.
"There are a good many factory boys in town," she said. "I can't tellunless you tell me whom you mean."
"I mean Robert Rushton."
"Perhaps I might," said Hester.
"He's a low fellow," said Halbert, bitterly.
"No one thinks so but you," retorted Hester, indignantly.
"My father was obliged to dismiss him from the factory."
"I know all about that, and who was the means of having him sent away."
"I suppose you mean me."
"Yes, Halbert Davis, I mean you, and I consider it a very mean thing todo," said Hester, her cheeks flushed with the indignation she felt.
"He attacked me like the low ruffian that he is," pleaded Halbert, inextenuation. "If he hadn't insulted me, he wouldn't have got intotrouble."
"You struck him first, you know you did. My brother told me all aboutit. You were angry because he walked home with me. I would rather gohome alone any time than have your escort."
"You're very polite, Miss Hester," said Halbert, angrily. "I can tellyou some news about your favorite."
"If it's anything bad, I won't believe it."
"You'll have to believe it."
"Well, what is it?" demanded Hester, who was not altogether unlike girlsin general, and so felt curious to learn what it was that Halbert had toreveal.
"Your brother was foolish enough to leave his boat in Rushton's care."
"That is no news. Will was very glad to do Robert a favor."
"He'll be sorry enough now."
"Why will he?"
"Because the boat is completely ruined."
"I don't believe it," said Hester, hastily.
"It's true, though. I was down at the river just now, and saw it with myown eyes. There is a great hole in the bottom, and it is hacked with ahatchet, so that it wouldn't bring half price."
"Do you know who did it?" asked Hester, with the momentary thought thatHalbert himself might have been tempted by his hatred into thecommission of the outrage.
"No, I don't. It was only accidentally I saw it."
"Was Robert at the boat?"
"No."
"Have you asked him about it?"
"No, I have not seen him."
"Then I am sure some enemy has done it. I am sure it is no fault ofhis."
"If your brother had let me have the boat, it wouldn't have happened. Ioffered him a fair price for its use."
"He won't be sorry he refused, whatever has happened. But I must bid yougood-morning, Mr. Davis," and the young lady, who was now at her owngate, opened it, and entered.
"She might have been polite enough to invite me in," said Halbert, withchagrin. "I don't see how she can be so taken up with that low fellow."
He waited till Hester had entered the house, and then bent his steps toMr. Paine's office, which was a small one-story building in one cornerof the yard.
The lawyer was sitting at a table covered with papers, from which helooked up as Halbert entered the office.
"Sit down, Halbert," he said. "Any message from your father?"
"No, sir."
"No legal business of your own?" he inquired, with a smile.
"No, sir, no legal business."
"Well, if you have any business, you may state it at once, as I am quitebusy."
"It is about the boat which your son lent to Robert Rushton."
"I shall not interfere with that arrangement," said the lawyer,misunderstanding his object. "I told your father that this morning," andhe resumed his writing.
"I did not come to say anything about that. The boat wouldn't be of anyuse to me now."
"Why not?" asked the lawyer, detecting something significant in theboy's tone.
"Because," said Halbert, in a tone which he could not divest of thesatisfaction he felt at his rival's misfortune, "the boat's completelyruined."
Mr. Paine laid down his pen in genuine surprise.
"Explain yourself," he said.
So Halbert told the story once more, taking good care to make the damagequite as great as it was.
"That is very strange," said the lawyer, thoughtfully. "I can't conceivehow such damage could have happened to the boat."
"Robert Rushton don't know how to manage a boat."
"You are mistaken. He understands it very well. I am sure the injuryyou speak of could not have happened when he was in charge. You saythere was not only a hole in the bottom, but it was otherwise defacedand injured?"
"Yes, sir, it looked as if it had been hacked by a hatchet."
"Then it is quite clear that Robert could have had nothing to do withit. It must have been done by some malicious person or persons."
Knowing something of Halbert, Mr. Paine looked hard at him, hissuspicions taking the same direction as his daughter's. But, as we know,Halbert was entirely innocent, and bore the gaze without confusion.
"I don't see why Robert hasn't been and let me know of this," said Mr.Paine, musing.
"He was probably afraid to tell you," said Halbert, with a slight sneer.
"I know him better than that. You can testify," added the lawyer,significantly, "that he is not deficient in bravery."
"I thought I would come and tell you," said Halbert, coloring a little."I thought you would like to know."
"You are very kind to take so much trouble," said Mr. Paine, but therewas neither gratitude nor cordiality in his tone.
Halbert thought it was time to be going, and accordingly got up andtook his leave. As he opened the office door to go out, he found himselfface to face with Robert Rushton, who passed him with a slight nod, andwith an air of trouble entered the presence of his friend's fat
her.