"He's a boy that's goin'
to board with us, dad," he answered.
"You don't say! Glad to make your acquaintance, boy," he said,
straightening up.
"Thank you, sir," answered Herbert, faintly.
CHAPTER XXX
A MODEL HOUSEHOLD
"When did you come?" asked Barton, steadying himself against a tree.
"Half an hour ago," answered Abner, for Herbert was gazing, with a
repulsion he found it difficult to conceal, at Barton, whose flushed
face and thick utterance indicated his condition very clearly.
"Who came with him?" continued Barton.
"You'd better ask marm. She attended to the business. It was a young
man."
"Where is she?"
"Gone to the village to buy some sassiges for dinner."
"Good!" exclaimed Barton, in a tone of satisfaction. "I'll stay at
home to dinner to-day. Did the man pay your mother any money?"
"I s'pose so, or she wouldn't be buyin' sassiges. Old Schickman
won't trust us any more."
"The money should have been paid to me. I'll see about it when your
marm comes back from the store."
"You'd spend it all for drink, dad," said Abner.
"How dare you speak so to your father, you ungrateful young dog!"
He essayed to reach Abner to strike him, but his dutiful son dodged
easily, and his father, being unsteady on his legs, fell on the
ground.
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