Austin usually retired early with the children, and his father became aware of this. He had missed his social evenings with his friends, and wished to have them again, so he had invited three of the “boys” to come rather late, after all the children were in bed, and spend an evening together. It happened that Austin had gone out that evening and did not get back till late. When he came in, he was much surprized to find the four men occupying the kitchen-table with their cards. They had also in some way obtained drink.
With a quick searching glance at the table to see if there were signs of gambling, Austin went upstairs without a word. But so strong was his influence and disapproval that it killed all the interest, and the men all left.
Mr. Hill sat alone, after they had gone, with the same feeling he used to have when his father had caught him doing something mean. He rankled at the thought of this boy setting himself up as judge. He thought he ought to be the master of his own house. He did not reason that Austin had said nothing, that he was only battling with the boy’s thoughts. That night he determined that Austin should learn to keep his place. It was preposterous, he thought, that he could not entertain his friends as he pleased.
Austin’s feelings after he had reached his room were as serious and positive as his father’s, but he took an entirely different view of the whole matter. The question with him was how he should put a stop to such carousing in the house. He wanted to bring up the children in right paths, and how could that be done if they had to be thrown into such influence? It would be a matter of only a short while till Harry would be old enough to begin enjoying these evil associates. So while his father was contemplating how he should show Austin his place, Austin was wondering how he should be able to get to his father’s deceived heart something of what his duty was.
“You thought yourself pretty smart last night,” he said to Austin the next morning in his surliest voice.
“I was not spying, but was only out to prayer-meeting and came in a little late,” answered the boy.
“Looks like a man ought to have a right to entertain his friends in his own house without being ordered about by a boy,” continued the man in a growling manner.
“Nobody was ordering you about, so far as I know. I am sure I said nothing,” Austin replied.
Now was his time, Austin thought, to explain himself. “I do think it is no example for you to set before the children to have such a crowd in,” he said.
Here the conversation stopped for the time, but the feeling of antagonism only grew by the encounter.