CHAPTER IX.

isknees?”saidtheSquire,aftertakingadraughtofale.“Ithoughtyouknewhowtoridebetterthanthat,sir.Ineverthrewahorsedowninmylife.IfIhad,Imightha’whistledforanother,formyfatherwasn’tquitesoreadytounstringassomeotherfathersIknowof.Buttheymustturnoveranewleaf—theymust.Whatwithmortgagesandarrears,I’masshorto’cashasaroadsidepauper.AndthatfoolKimblesaysthenewspaper’stalkingaboutpeace.Why,thecountrywouldn’thavealegtostandon.Prices’udrundownlikeajack,andIshouldnevergetmyarrears,notifIsoldallthefellowsup.Andthere’sthatdamnedFowler,Iwon’tputupwithhimanylongerI’vetoldWinthroptogotoCoxthisveryday.Thelyingscoundreltoldmehe’dbesuretopaymeahundredlastmonth.Hetakesadvantagebecausehe’sonthatoutlyingfarm,andthinksIshallforgethim.” TheSquirehaddeliveredthisspeechinacoughingandinterruptedmanner,butwithnopauselongenoughforGodfreytomakeitapretextfortakingupthewordagain.HefeltthathisfathermeanttowardoffanyrequestformoneyonthegroundofthemisfortunewithWildfire,andthattheemphasishehadthusbeenledtolayonhisshortnessofcashandhisarrearswaslikelytoproduceanattitudeofmindtheutmostunfavourableforhisowndisclosure.Buthemustgoon,nowhehadbegun. “It’sworsethanbreakingthehorse’sknees—he’sbeenstakedandkilled,”hesaid,assoonashisfatherwassilent,andhadbeguntocuthismeat.“ButIwasn’tthinkingofaskingyoutobuymeanotherhorseIwasonlythinkingI’dlostthemeansofpayingyouwiththepriceofWildfire,asI’dmeanttodo.Dunseytookhimtothehunttosellhimformetheotherday,andafterhe’dmadeabargainforahundredandtwentywithBryce,hewentafterthehounds,andtooksomefool’sleaporotherthatdidforthehorseatonce.Ifithadn’tbeenforthat,Ishouldhavepaidyouahundredpoundsthismorning.” TheSquirehadlaiddownhisknifeandfork,andwasstaringathissoninamazement,notbeingsufficientlyquickofbraintoformaprobableguessastowhatcouldhavecausedsostrangeaninversionofthepaternalandfilialrelationsasthispropositionofhissontopayhimahundredpounds. “Thetruthis,sir—I’mverysorry—Iwasquitetoblame,”saidGodfrey.“Fowlerdidpaythathundredpounds.Hepaidittome,whenIwasoverthereonedaylastmonth.AndDunseybotheredmeforthemoney,andIlethimhaveit,becauseIhopedIshouldbeabletopayityoubeforethis.” TheSquirewaspurplewithangerbeforehissonhaddonespeaking,andfoundutterancedifficult.“YouletDunseyhaveit,sir?AndhowlonghaveyoubeensothickwithDunseythatyoumustcolloguewithhimtoembezzlemymoney?Areyouturningoutascamp?ItellyouIwon’thaveit.I’llturnthewholepackofyououtofthehousetogether,andmarryagai