"They are fit for firsts!" retorted Cyril, breaking his silence. "I know I did put a pair in that was not up to the mark."
The master went and picked up the gloves himself. Taking them to the light, he turned them about in his hands.
"I should put two of these pairs as seconds, and one as thirds," remarked he. "You must have been asleep when you put this one among the firsts," he continued, indicating the latter pair, and speaking to Cyril Dare. "It has a flaw in it."
"Of course you will uphold Halliburton, sir, whatever he may say. That has been the case for a long time past."
He spoke in an insolent tone; such as none within the walls of that manufactory had ever dared to use to the master. The master turned upon him, speaking quietly and significantly.
"You forget yourself, Cyril Dare."
"All he does is right, and all I do is wrong," persisted Cyril. "You treat him, sir, just as though you considered him the gentleman, instead of me."
A half-smile, which had too much mockery in it to please Cyril, crossed the lips of Mr. Ashley. "What's that you say about being a gentleman, Cyril? Repeat it, will you? I should like to hear it again."
Mockery and double mockery! Cyril's suggestive ears detected it in the tone, if no other ears could do so. It did not improve his temper. "The thing is this, sir: I won't submit to this state of affairs any longer. I was not placed here to be ruled over by him; and if things can't be put upon a better footing, one of us must leave."
"Then, as it has come to this explosion, I say the same," struck in William. "It is high time that things were put upon a better footing. Cyril, you have forced me to speak, and you must take the consequences. Sir," turning to the master, "my authority over the men is ridiculed in their hearing. It ought not to be so."