“I don’t think I can do it. By this time everybody knows that the colonel has quarrelled with me, and no one will run the risk of offending him by buying it,” replied my father. “I hope Mortimer will catch Christy, and get back part of my money, if not the whole of it.”
We landed in Middleport, and hastened to the mansion of the major. He was ever so much better humored than when I had called upon him before. He had evidently considered the nature of the victory he had won over his powerful rival, for he had certainly cheated the colonel out of his revenge upon my father, and practically nullified his punishment. He appeared to be duly comforted.
“I am glad to see you, Mr. Penniman,” said he, graciously, as my father bowed low to him.
“I am very grateful to you for your kind offer, sir, and I accept it thankfully,” replied my father.
“I wish to see the smoke rising from the chimney of the mill at once,” added the major, briskly. “I want Wimpleton to understand that he can’t shut me up. Go to the mill, and get up steam as fast as you can; and the more smoke you make, the better, for that will be my sign of triumph.”
“I’ll fire up at once,” replied my father, leaving the room, and hastening to his work.
Young and inexperienced as I was, I could not help feeling sad at this exhibition of malignity on the part of the rich man of Middleport. The colonel had taken the opportunity afforded by the dismissal of my father to strike his rival in a tender place. It was mean; but such was the character of the dealings between them, when they had any. The major rubbed his hands with delight, and paced the library under the exhilaration of the moment. It was a pity that these men, with such vast means of doing good within their grasp, should quarrel with each other, and debase and demoralize a whole neighborhood by their actions.
“Well, Mr. Penniman, I suppose you are ready to go to work,” said the major, pausing before me after a time.
Mr. Penniman! I felt an inch taller to have a handle applied to my name by such a magnificent man.
“Yes, sir; I am waiting for orders.”