John read this cold and unjust letter with mingled anger and dismay. It was hard to have all the blame of his quarrel with Ben thrown upon him, when Ben had been the aggressor, and he had only contended for his just rights. So he was to be exiled from home on Ben's account. He could not help thinking how happily his father and he used to live together before the present Mrs. Oakley came to the farm as house-keeper. And now she and her son had taken possession, and he was turned adrift. What would his father have thought, could he have foreseen what would happen so soon after his death!
These thoughts, and others not less disturbing, passed through John's mind as he read his stepmother's letter. Mr. Huxter's eyes were fixed upon his face in cruel exultation, for he imagined the nature of John's feelings, and enjoyed his sorrow.
"Well, Oakley, what do you say to that?" he demanded.
"I don't know what to say," said John.
"No, I presume not. The fact is, you haven't got anything to say in the matter. My sister is your natural guardian, and she has sent you to me to manage. She says you're rather a tough subject; but I reckon I can manage you. You'll find me a little harder to deal with than a woman, I can tell you that."
John did not reply. Indeed, he hardly knew what Mr. Huxter had been saying. So many thoughts crowded in upon his mind with regard to the sudden change in his position that he paid little attention to what was said.
"Is this the only business on which Mrs. Oakley sent me?" he asked, at length.
"It's enough, isn't it?" demanded Mr. Huxter, with a laugh. "So you hadn't the least idea what was the object of your expedition?"
"No, I had not," said John, indignantly. "I had no suspicion that it was only a trap."
"I knew you hadn't," said Mr. Huxter, laughing with evident enjoyment. "You were pretty well taken in, hey?"