Wives and Daughters: An Every-Day Story - Page 278/572

"Quiet, mare, quiet," said the Squire, totally unaware that he was

the cause of her impatient movements by the way he was perpetually

tightening her reins; and also, perhaps, he unconsciously addressed

the injunction to himself.

Neither of them saw Roger Hamley, who was just then approaching them

with long, steady steps. He had seen his father from the door of old

Silas's cottage, and, as the poor fellow was still asleep, he was

coming to speak to his father, and was near enough now to hear the

next words.

"I don't know who you are, but I've known land-agents who were

gentlemen, and I've known some who were not. You belong to this last

set, young man," said the squire, "that you do. I should like to try

my horsewhip on you for your insolence."

"Pray, Mr. Hamley," replied Mr. Preston, coolly, "curb your temper a

little, and reflect. I really feel sorry to see a man of your age in

such a passion:"--moving a little farther off, however, but really

more with a desire to save the irritated man from carrying his threat

into execution, out of a dislike to the slander and excitement it

would cause, than from any personal dread. Just at this moment Roger

Hamley came close up. He was panting a little, and his eyes were very

stern and dark; but he spoke quietly enough.

"Mr. Preston, I can hardly understand what you mean by your last

words. But, remember, my father is a gentleman of age and position,

and not accustomed to receive advice as to the management of his

temper from young men like you."

"I desired him to keep his men off my land," said the Squire to

his son--his wish to stand well in Roger's opinion restraining his

temper a little; but though his words might be a little calmer, there

were all other signs of passion present--the discoloured complexion,

the trembling hands, the fiery cloud in his eyes. "He refused, and

doubted my word."

Mr. Preston turned to Roger, as if appealing from Philip drunk to

Philip sober, and spoke in a tone of cool explanation, which, though

not insolent in words, was excessively irritating in manner.

"Your father has misunderstood me--perhaps it is no wonder," trying

to convey, by a look of intelligence at the son, his opinion that the

father was in no state to hear reason. "I never refused to do what

was just and right. I only required further evidence as to the past

wrong-doing; your father took offence at this," and then he shrugged

his shoulders, and lifted his eyebrows in a manner he had formerly

learnt in France.