“I don’t like to make an offer, and then have it refused.”
“I do not like to say what I will do till I have an opportunity to do it,” I answered.
“You need not bother your head about it. I don’t intend to make you an offer. I only wanted to show you that you did not mean what you said about serving me,” continued Tommy spitefully. “I wouldn’t——”
“Stop a minute, Tommy,” interposed his father. “Wolf, after all we have done for you, we have a right to expect something better of you.”
“What would you have me do, sir?” I asked.
“Do! I’ll tell you. Go to Wimpleton to-night. Resign your situation. Then come to me, and I’ll talk with you about a place for——”
“Stop a minute, father,” said Tommy. “Don’t make any promises. I wouldn’t have him on the Lake Shore Railroad any more than I would have Wimpleton himself. He’s a hypocrite—would rather serve me than injure me! Let him resign his place on this steamer! That would be doing something to serve me. After that it will be time enough to talk.”
I made no reply, for it was patent to me that Tommy had sent for me merely to bully me. It was easier and cheaper to bear it than to resent it.
“Perhaps you think you can ruin the Lake Shore Railroad, in which I have invested so much money,” sneered the senior major.
“I have no desire to do so.”