“What was it?”
Guy reluctantly answered this question, and with correctness.
“It was your fault for speaking to him when he was feeling sore at making a painful discovery.”
“Do you justify him in pitching into me like a big brute?” asked Guy, hastily.
“No; but still, I think it, was natural, under the circumstances. You should have kept out of his way, and let him alone.”
“Won’t you punish him for attacking me?” demanded Guy, indignantly.
“I will speak to him on the subject,” said Allan Roscoe; “and will tell him my opinion of his act.”
“Then shan’t I be revenged upon him?” asked Guy, disappointed.
“Listen, Guy,” said his father. “Is it no punishment that the boy is stripped of all his possessions, while you step into his place? Henceforth he will be dependent upon me, and later, upon you. He has been hurled down from his proud place as owner of Castle Roscoe, and I have taken his place, as you will hereafter do.”
“Yes,” said Guy, gleefully; “it will be a proud day when I become master of the estate.”