to anything I won't charge you a cent."
"And if it does?"
"If you get your property by my professional exertions, I trust to your generosity to reward me."
"All right, Sam."
"Of course you won't let your stepmother suspect what you're after. Otherwise she might get the start of you, and find it herself, and then much good it would do you."
"I'm glad to think it is still in existence, and that she hasn't destroyed it."
"She would if she could, you may depend on that."
"Well, Sam, I'm much obliged to you for your advice. I think I must be going now."
"Well, good-by, old fellow. Keep a stiff upper lip, and don't give up the ship—horsemanship, I mean. I must go round to the office, and see if father doesn't need a little professional assistance."
John leaped on Prince's back, and turned him in the direction of home. The revelation which Sam had made gave a new direction to his thoughts. If his father had really intended to give him a share of the estate, he felt that he ought to have it, and determined to institute a search as cautiously as possible.
Driving into the yard he saw Ben sitting sullenly on the door-step. He eyed John with no very friendly glance.
"Where've you been?" he demanded.
"Up the road," said John, briefly.
"It's the last time you'll ride my horse."
"It's not your horse."
"You'll find out whose horse it is," muttered Ben.
"I don't care about disputing with you," said John, quietly, turning towards the stable.
"My mother wishes to see you at once; do you hear?" said Ben, unpleasantly. "She's going to make you apologize to me for your impudence."
"I'll go in and see her as soon as I have put the horse in the stable," John answered, quietly.
"I hate that fellow," muttered Ben, following our hero with lowering eyes; "he puts on too many airs altogether. But my mother'll fix him."
CHAPTER III.
JOHN'S TROUBLES BEGIN
After putting Prince in the stable, John went into the house slowly, for he was in no hurry to anticipate what he feared would be an unpleasant interview.
"Where is Mrs. Oakley, Jane?" he asked of a servant whom he met in the hall.
"She's in the sitting-room, Master John," said Jane. "She wants to see you immediately."
"Very well; I'll go in."
He heard steps behind him, and, turning, found that Ben was following him.
"He wants to hear me scolded," thought John. "However, I won't take any notice."
Mrs. Oakley was sitting in a rocking-chair. She looked up with a frown as John entered. She had never liked him, but since Ben had declared, falsely, as we know, that John had no more respect for her than a servant, this dislike was greatly increased.
She was inwardly determined to make his life as uncomfortable as possible.
"Well, sir," she said, "so you have come at last."
"I came as soon as Ben told me you wished to see me," said John. "I only waited till I had put my horse into the stable."
"His horse!" repeated Ben, by way of calling his mother's attention to the claim to ownership expressed in those words.
"I suppose I ought to consider it lucky that you paid any attention to my words," said Mrs. Oakley.
"I hope I have not failed in proper respect," said John.
"It was very respectful in you to ride off with the horse, when I had told Ben he might use it."
"It was my horse," said John, firmly. "If Ben wanted it, he might ask me."
"Ask you, indeed!" repeated Ben, scornfully; "you won't catch me doing that."
"It was enough that I told him that he might ride. Didn't he tell you that?"
"Yes."
"Then what right had you to refuse?"
"The horse is mine," said John. "It was given me by my father."
"He allowed you to use it."
"He gave it to me. At the same time he gave Ben a watch, which he is wearing now. He has no more right to demand my horse than I have to claim his watch."
"You seem to forget," said Mrs. Oakley, coldly, "that your father saw fit to leave me his property. The horse forms a part of that property, and belongs to me, and it is for me to say who shall ride on it. Ben, you may ride on the horse to-morrow."
"Do you hear that?" demanded Ben, triumphantly, looking towards John.
"I suppose," said John, quietly, "you will order Ben to let me have his watch to-morrow."
"I shall do no such thing," said Mrs. Oakley, sharply, "and it is impudent in you to ask such a thing."
"I don't see why it isn't fair," said John. "It appears to me rather mean in Ben to want both, and leave me neither."
"That is for me to decide," said Mrs. Oakley. "There is one thing more I have to speak to you about. My son tells me you were brutal enough to strike him with the whip. Do you deny that?"
"I never deny what's true."
"Then you did strike him."
"Yes, I struck him twice."
"And you have the impudence to stand there, and say it to my face!"
"You asked me, and I have answered you. I don't see why that should be called impudent."
"You glory in your disgraceful action," said Mrs. Oakley, sharply.
"Did Ben tell you that he struck me first?" asked John.
"I am very glad to hear it. It was what you deserved," said Mrs. Oakley.
"Then," said John, firmly, "I gave him what he deserved. You can't expect me to stand still and be struck without returning it."
"The only fault I find with Ben is, that he did not strike you more than once," said Mrs. Oakley, in an excited tone.
John glanced from the mother to her son, who was evidently pleased with the reproaches John was receiving, and said, quietly:—
"I think Ben had better not attempt it."
"What do you mean by that?" demanded Mrs. Oakley, quickly.
"I don't want to strike Ben, or injure him in any way," said John; "but I mean to defend myself if I am attacked."
And Ben, though he chose to sneer, knew very well that, quietly
