Bram hesitated.
“I don’t want to hear anything,” said he sullenly. “I’d rather go, sir.”
“No doubt you would, but you wouldn’t like to treat us in any way unfairly, would you, Bram? You acknowledge that we’ve not treated you badly, you know.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, then, you can hardly refuse to hear what the culprit has to say in his own defence. If, after hearing him, you are not satisfied, you can have the satisfaction of telling him what you think of him in good round terms before you go. Now, is that a bargain? You stay here until I come back from town—at least—with or without (for, of course, you may be right, and he may not come) my son?”
Bram hesitated; but he could not well refuse.
“All right, sir. I’ll stay till you come back,” he answered sullenly.
And, without another word or another look, he accepted his employer’s satisfied motion of assent as a dismissal, and left the room.