“Then I don’t share your sentiments,” said Mrs. Preston.  “I am thankful that I know my position better.  I mean to uphold the dignity of the family, and I hope my son will do the same.”

Colonel Preston shrugged his shoulders as his wife swept from the room.  He knew of old her sentiments on this subject, and he was aware that she was not likely to become a convert to his more democratic ideas.

“I am afraid she will spoil Godfrey,” he thought.  “The boy is getting intolerable.  I am glad this Irish boy gave him a lesson.  He seems a fine-spirited lad.  I will help him if I can.”

“Ellen,” said Mrs. Preston the next morning, “when Mrs. Burke comes let me know.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“She’s come,” announced Ellen, half an hour later.

Mrs. Preston rose from her seat and went into the laundry.

“Good-morning, Mrs. Preston,” said Mrs. Burke.

“Good-morning,” returned the other, stiffly.  “Mrs. Burke, I hear that your son behaved very badly to my Godfrey yesterday.”

“It isn’t like Andy, ma’am,” said the mother, quietly.  “He’s a good, well-behaved lad.”

“Godfrey tells me that he made a brutal assault upon him, quite forgetting his superior position.”

“Are you sure Master Godfrey didn’t strike him first?” asked the mother.

“Even if he had, your son shouldn’t have struck back.”

“Why not?” asked Mrs. Burke, her eyes flashing with spirit, meek as she generally was.

“Because it was improper,” said Mrs. Preston, decisively.

“I don’t see that, ma’am.  Andy isn’t the boy to stand still and be struck.”

“Do I understand,” said Mrs. Preston, in a freezing tone, “that you uphold your son in his atrocious conduct?”

“Yes, ma’am.  I stand up for Andy, for he’s a good boy, and if he struck Master Godfrey it was because he was struck first.”

“That is enough,” said Mrs. Preston, angrily.  “I shall not require your services after to-day, Mrs. Burke.”

“Just as you like, ma’am,” said Mrs. Burke, with quiet pride, but she thought, with a sinking heart, of the gap which this would make in her scanty income.

CHAPTER V A PROFITABLE JOB

After finishing her work at Colonel Preston’s Mrs. Burke went home.  She did not see Mrs. Preston again, for the latter sent her the money for her services by Ellen.

“Mrs. Preston says you’re not to come next week,” said Ellen.

“She told me so herself this morning.  She is angry because I took the part of my boy against Master Godfrey.”

“Godfrey’s the hatefulest boy I ever see,” said Ellen, whose grammar was a little defective.  “He’s always putting on airs.”

“He struck my Andy, and Andy struck him back.”

“I’m glad he did,” said Ellen, emphatically.  “I hope he’ll do it again.”

“I don’t want the boys to fight.  Andy’s a peaceable lad; and he’ll be quiet if he’s let alone.  But he’s just like his poor father, and he won’t let anybody trample on him.”