“He is afraid of me, after all.”

“You are mistaken, Godfrey.  He is offered considerably higher pay in another place.”

Godfrey’s countenance fell.  It was as disagreeable to him as to his mother to learn that Mr. Stone was to be promoted in his profession.

“Shall I have to go to school again, mother?” he asked, after a pause.

“No,” said Mrs. Preston, with energy.  “Upon that I have determined.  While Mr. Stone is teacher, you shall not go back.  I will take care to let it be known in the neighborhood why I keep you at home.  I hope the next teacher will be a man who understands the respect due to social position.  I don’t care to have you put on an equality with such boys as Andrew Burke.  He is no fit associate for you.”

“That is what I think, mother,” said Godfrey.  “The low beggar!  I’d like to come up with him.  Perhaps, I shall have a chance some day.”

When Colonel Preston returned home, the whole story was told to him; but, colored though it was, he guessed how matters actually stood, and was far from becoming his son’s partisan.  He privately went to Mr. Stone and obtained his version of the affair.

“You did right, Mr. Stone,” he said, at the end.  “If my son chooses to act the bully, he must take the consequences.  Mrs. Preston does not look upon it in the same light, and insists upon my taking Godfrey from school.  For the sake of peace, I must do so, but you must not construe it as showing any disapproval on my part of your course in the matter.”

“Thank you, Colonel Preston,” said the teacher, warmly.  “I can only regret Mrs. Preston’s displeasure.  Your approval I highly value, and it will encourage me in the path of duty.”

CHAPTER XVI THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Godfrey didn’t return to school at all.  He fancied that it would be more aristocratic to go to a boarding school, and, his mother concurring in this view, he was entered as a scholar at the Melville Academy, situated in Melville, twelve miles distant.  Once a fortnight he came home to spend the Sunday.  On these occasions he flourished about with a tiny cane, and put on more airs than ever.  No one missed him much, outside of his own family.  Andy found the school considerably more agreeable after his departure.

We will now suppose twelve months to have passed.  During this time Andy has grown considerably, and is now quite a stout boy.  He has improved also in education.  The Misses Grant, taking a kind interest in his progress, managed to spare him half the day in succeeding terms, so that he continued to attend school.  Knowing that he had but three hours to learn, when the others had six, he was all the more diligent, and was quite up to the average standard for boys of his age.  The fact is, Andy was an observing boy, and he realized that education was essential to success in life.  Mr. Stone, before going away, talked with him on this subject and gave him some advice, which Andy determined to follow.