Squire Leech flushed all over his face. This certainly was plain speaking.
“You have probably been misled by Carter's statement. I don't believe my boy did anything, or said anything, that Carter had a right to complain of.”
“From what I have observed of your son, I regret to differ with you.”
“You are prejudiced against James.”
“I was not to begin with; but what I have seen of him, certainly, has not prepossessed me in his favor. He seems disposed to be insolent to those whom he fancies beneath him in social position.”
“If you refer to the Carter boy,” said the squire, pompously, “I should say that James is right in regarding him as a social inferior.”
“I won't argue that point, or consider how far the possession of money, which is certainly the only point in which Herbert is inferior, justifies your son in looking down upon him. I will only say that he has no right to insult his social inferiors.”
The discussion had assumed such a different character from what the squire anticipated, that he found it difficult to come to the request he had in view. But he did it.
“I am certainly astonished, Mr. Cameron, to find you so prejudiced against my son. If you should find you had done him an injustice, and that the Carter boy was really the aggressor last evening, will you be willing to discharge him from your employment?”
“If I find Herbert justifies your denunciations and his assault was unprovoked, I will discharge him.”