CHAPTER VI.
HALBERT'S DISCOMFITURE.
Great was the dismay of Mrs. Rushton when she heard from Robert that hewas discharged from the factory. She was a timid woman, and rather aptto take desponding views of the future.
"Oh, Robert, what is going to become of us?" she exclaimed, nervously."We have only ten dollars in the house, and you know how little I canearn by braiding straw. I really think you were too hasty andimpetuous."
"Don't be alarmed, my dear mother," said Robert, soothingly. "I am sorryI have lost my place, but there are other things I can do besidesworking in the factory. We are not going to starve yet."
"But, suppose you can't find any work?" said his mother.
"Then I'll help you braid straw," said Robert, laughing. "Don't youthink I might learn after a while?"
"I don't know but you might," said Mrs. Rushton, dubiously; "but thepay is very poor."
"That's so, mother. I shan't, take to braiding straw except as a lastresort."
"Wouldn't Mr. Davis take you back into the factory if I went to him andtold him how much we needed the money?"
"Don't think of such a thing, mother," said Robert, hastily, his browncheek flushing. "I am too proud to beg to be taken back."
"But it wouldn't be you."
"I would sooner ask myself than have you do it, mother. No; thesuperintendent sent me away for no good reason, and he must come and askme to return before I'll do it."
"I am afraid you are proud, Robert."
"So I am, mother; but it is an honest pride. Have faith in me for aweek, mother, and see if I don't earn something in that time. I don'texpect to make as much as I earned at the factory; but I'll earnsomething, you may depend upon that. Now, how would you like to havesome fish for supper?"
"I think I should like it. It is a good while since we had any."
"Then, I'll tell you what--I'll borrow Will Paine's boat, if he'll letme have it, and see if I can't catch something."
"When will you be home, Robert?"
"It will depend on my success in fishing. It'll be half-past nine, verylikely, before I get fairly started, so I think I'd better take mydinner with me. I'll be home some time in the afternoon."
"I hope you'll be careful, Robert. You might get upset."
"I'll take care of that, mother. Besides, I can swim like a duck."
Robert went out into the garden, and dug some worms for bait. Meanwhile,his mother made a couple of sandwiches, and wrapped them in a paper forhis lunch. Provided thus, he walked quickly to the house of SquirePaine, and rang the bell.
"Is Will home?" he asked.
"Here I am, old fellow!" was heard from the head of the stairs; andWilliam Paine, a boy of our hero's size and age, appeared. "Come rightup."
"How did you happen to be at leisure?" he asked. "I supposed you were atthe factory."
"I'm turned off."
"Turned off! How's that?"
"Through the influence of Halbert Davis."
"Halbert is a disgusting sneak. I always despised him, and, if he's donesuch a mean thing, I'll never speak to him again. Tell me all about it."
This Robert did, necessarily bringing in Hester's name.
"He needn't think my sister will walk with him," said Will. "If shedoes, I'll cut her off with a shilling. She'd rather walk with you, anyday."
Robert blushed a little; for, though he was too young to be in love, hethought his friend's sister the most attractive girl he had even seen,and, knowing how she was regarded in the village, he naturally feltproud of her preference for himself over a boy who was much richer.
"What are you going to do now?" asked Will, with interest.
"The first thing I am going to do is to catch some fish, if you'll lendme your boat."
"Lend you my boat? Of course I will! I'll lend it to you for the nextthree months."
"But you want it yourself?"
"No. Haven't you heard the news? I'm going to boarding school."
"You are?"
"It's a fact. I'm packing my trunk now. Come upstairs, and superintendthe operation."
"I can't stay long. But, Will, are you in earnest about the boat?"
"To be sure I am. I was meaning to ask you if you'd take care of it forme. You see, I can't carry it with me, and you are the only fellow I amwilling to lend it to."
"I shall be very glad of the chance, Will. I've been wanting a boat fora long time, but there wasn't much chance of my getting one. Now Ishall feel rich. But isn't this a sudden idea, your going to school?"
"Rather. There was a college classmate of father's here last week, who'sat the head of such a school, and he made father promise to send me. SoI'm to start to-morrow morning. If it wasn't for that, and being up tomy ears in getting ready, I'd go out fishing with you."
"I wish you could."
"I must wait till vacation. Here is the boat key."
Robert took the key with satisfaction. The boat owned by his friend wasa stanch, round-bottomed boat, of considerable size, bought only twomonths before, quite the best boat on the river. It was to be at hisfree disposal, and this was nearly the same thing as owning it. He mightfind it very useful, for it occurred to him that, if he could findnothing better to do, he could catch fish every day, and sell at thevillage store such as his mother could not use. In this way he would beearning something, and it would be better than being idle.
He knew where the boat was usually kept, just at the foot of a largetree, whose branches drooped over the river. He made his way thither,and, fitting the key in the padlock which confined the boat, soon set itfree. The oars he had brought with him from his friend's house.
Throwing in the oars, he jumped in, and began to push off, when he heardhimself called, and, looking up, saw Halbert Davis standing on the bank.
"Get out of that boat!" said Halbert.
"What do you mean?" demanded Robert.
"You have no business in that boat! It doesn't belong to you!"
"You'd better mind your own business, Halbert Davis. You have nothing todo with the boat."
"It's William Paine's boat."
"Thank you for the information. I supposed it was yours, from theinterest you seem to take in it."
"It will be. He's going to let me have it while he's away at school."
"Indeed! Did he tell you so?"
"I haven't asked Ma yet; but I know he will let me have it."
"I don't think he will."
"Why not?"
"If you ever want to borrow this boat, you'll have to apply to me."
"You haven't bought it?" asked Halbert, in surprise. "You're too poor."
"I'm to have charge of the boat while Will Paine is away."
"Did he say you might?" asked Halbert, in a tone of disappointment andmortification.
"Of course he did."
"I don't believe it," said Halbert, suspiciously.
"I don't care what you believe. Go and ask him yourself, if you are notsatisfied; and don't meddle with what is none of your business;"
"You're an impudent rascal."
"Have you got another cane you'd like to have broken?" asked Robert,significantly.
Halbert looked after him, enviously, as he rowed the boat out into thestream. He had asked his father to buy him a boat, but thesuperintendent's speculations had not turned out very well of late, andhe had been deaf to his son's persuasions, backed, though they were, byhis mother's influence. When Halbert heard that William Paine was goingto boarding school, he decided to ask him for the loan of his boatduring his absence, as the next best thing. Now, it seemed that he hadbeen forestalled, and by the boy he hated. He resolved to see youngPaine himself, and offer him two dollars for the use of his boat duringthe coming term. Then he would have the double satisfaction of using theboat and disappointing Robert.
He made his way to the house of Squire Paine, and, after a brief pause,was admitted. He was shown into the parlor, and Will Paine came down tosee him.
"How are you, Davis?" he
said, nodding, coolly, but not offering hishand.
"I hear you are going to boarding school?"
"Yes; I go to-morrow."
"I suppose you won't take your boat with you?"
"No."
"I'll give you two dollars for the use of it; the next three months?"
"I can't accept your offer. Robert Rushton is to have it."
"But he doesn't pay you anything for it. I'll give you three dollars, ifyou say so?"
"You can't have it for three dollars, or ten. I have promised it to myfriend, Robert Rushton, and I shall not take it back."
"You may not know," said Halbert, maliciously, "that your friend wasdischarged from the factory this morning for misconduct."
"I know very well that he was discharged, and through whose influence,Halbert Davis," said Will, pointedly. "I like him all the better for hismisfortune, and so I am sure will my sister."
Halbert's face betrayed the anger and jealousy he felt, but he didn'tdare to speak to the lawyer's son as he had to the factory boy.
"Good-morning!" he said, rising to go.
"Good-morning!" said young Paine, formally.
Halbert felt, as he walked homeward, that his triumph over Robert was byno means complete.