“Here’s you hat, Mr. Jones,” said Robert, smiling in spite of himself as he picked it up and restored it to the mortified visitor.
“You’ll hear from me!” roared the landlord furiously, aiming a blow at Robert and leaving the room precipitately. “You’ll repent this day, see if you don’t!”
After he had left the room Robert and his aunt looked at each other gravely. They had made an enemy out of a man who could turn them out of doors.
The future looked far from bright.
CHAPTER XXI
THE HERMIT’S SECRET
Mr. Jones, in his anger at Robert, regretted that he must wait four weeks before he could turn him and his aunt out of the house. It would be a great satisfaction to him to see the boy without a roof to shelter him, reduced to becoming a tramp or to take refuge in the poorhouse.
“By George, I’ll humble the young beggar’s pride!” exclaimed Mr. Jones as he hastened homeward from his unsatisfactory interview.
It must be admitted that Robert had not been exactly respectful, but, on the other hand, it is quite certain that the landlord had been rude and rough in manner and speech.