"And if they can't have their way, there's nothing they wouldn't do to spite a fellow," added he.
"Why, what has Mr. Hoad been doing to spite you?" asked mother.
"Nothing, ma'am, nothing at all," declared the bailiff. "There's nothing he could do to spite me, for I don't set enough store by him; and I should doubt if there's any would be led far by the words of a man that shows himself such a time-server."
He spoke so bitterly that I looked at him in sheer astonishment.
"I thought Mr. Hoad seemed to have taken quite a fancy to you last night," said mother.
Harrod laughed harshly.
"Yes," he said; and then he added, abruptly, "There's some folk's seemings that aren't to be trusted. They depend upon what they can get."
"Good gracious!" said mother. "Whatever could Mr. Hoad want to get of you?"
"Excuse me, ma'am, I don't know that he wanted to get anything," declared Harrod, evidently feeling that he had gone too far. "I know no ill of the man. I don't like him—that's all."
Mother was silent, but I said, boldly, "No more do I."