Arthur was not at all satisfied with this arrangement, and neither was his father. The former was wondering what his aristocratic acquaintances in Bolton would say if they could see him dressed in his fine clothes and perched behind a span of lazy mules; while Uncle Bob told himself that he was losing something by leaving his nephew and Mr. Evans together. He wanted an opportunity to tell his story before Bob could say anything to prejudice the man against him.
“So that’s the man who is to act as your guardian, is it?” said Mr. Evans, as the wagon moved off. “He is the chap who borrowed money of your father to start him in business, and then failed and cheated him out of the most of it?”
“Yes; and when father came out here, in the hope of recovering the health he had lost by overwork, Uncle Bob industriously circulated the report that he had run away from his creditors,” added Bob, in a voice that was husky with indignation. “Father couldn’t have forgotten all this, and yet he made this man my guardian, and gave him control of the property.”
“No, he didn’t forget it, but he forgave it,” said Mr. Evans. “I know that the fierce quarrel he had with his brother was the cause of much sorrow to him; and as soon as he had paid all your Uncle Bob’s debts, he went to work to heal the breach—”
“And Uncle Bob helped him; and this is the result,” broke in the boy.
“That seems to be about the way the thing stands. I know what sort of a will he made, and I know, too, that it was his intention to speak to you about it when you came home this fall, and to change it, if you raised the least objection to it.”
“I shouldn’t have done it,” said Bob, with tears in his eyes. “As it was his wish that my uncle should act in his stead, I shall submit, and be as dutiful and respectful as I can; but, unless he changes very much, I shall be heartily glad to see the last of him. Now, let us drop the matter. I don’t want to talk about it any more.”
Neither did Mr. Evans. Regrets could not change the situation.
He was sorry for Bob, and he made the mental resolution that he would keep an eye on this guardian of his, and at the very first sign of tyranny or unfaithfulness, he would raise a storm about his ears that would drive him from the country.
The journey from Dixon Spring to Bob Howard’s home consumed the best part of five days, and during that time Arthur and George had opportunity to learn what Western life, of which they had often read the most glowing accounts, really was.