John left the stable outwardly calm, but much disturbed in mind.
"Mrs. Oakley might at least have let me know what she meant to do," he said, bitterly. "My poor father's gift too."
Ben waited for John's return with malicious interest. He wanted to witness and enjoy his disappointment.
"I thought you were going to ride?" he said, with a smile of mockery.
"Can you tell me where your mother is?" asked John, coldly.
"She's in the house, I suppose. Do you want to see her?"
"Yes."
John entered the house without taking any further notice of Ben. He found his stepmother in the sitting-room. She looked up, as he entered, with a glance of satisfaction, for she saw that she had made him unhappy.
"Mike tells me you have sold Prince, Mrs. Oakley," he commenced.
"Yes. What of it?"