figured as a rich man's
son and heir he had begun, incredible as it may appear, to look down
upon his own mother. She was not wholly ignorant of this change in his
feelings, and it made her unhappy. He was all she had to live for. But
for him she would not have stooped to take part in the conspiracy in
which she was now a participant. It seemed hard that her only son, for
whom she had sinned, should prove so ungrateful.

"My boy," she said, "I would not on any account harm you or injure your
prospects, but when we are alone there can be no harm in my treating you
as my son."

"It can't do any good," grumbled Jonas, "and we might be overheard."

"I will be cautious. You may be sure of that. But why do you look so
annoyed?"

"Why? Reason enough. That boy Dan, the under-gardener, has been impudent
to me."

"He has?" said Mrs. Brent quickly. "What has he done?"

Jonas rehearsed the story. He found in his mother a sympathetic
listener.

"He is bold!" she said, compressing her lips.

"Yes, he is. When I told him I would have him turned off, he coolly
turned round and said that my father was a gentleman, and wouldn't send
him away. Ma, will you do me a favor?"

"What is it, Jonas?"

"Send him off before the governor gets home. You can make it all right
with him."

Mrs. Brent hesitated.

"Mr. Granville might think I was taking a liberty."

"Oh, you can make it all right with him. Say that he was very impudent
to me. After what has happened, if he stays he'll think he can treat me
just as he pleases."

Again Mrs. Brent hesitated, but her own inclination prompted her to do
as her son desired.

"You may tell Dan to come here. I wish to speak to him," she said.

Jonas went out and did the errand.

"Mrs. Brent wants to see me?" said Dan. "I have nothing to do with her."

"You'd better come in if you know what's best for yourself." said Jonas,
with an exultation he did not attempt to conceal.

"Oh, well, I have no objection to meeting Mrs. Brent," said Dan. "I'll
go in."

Mrs. Brent eyed the young gardener with cold animosity.

"You have been impudent to Master Philip," she said. "Of course you
cannot remain any longer in his father's employment. Here are five
dollars--more than is due you. Take it, and leave the estate."

"I won't take your money, Mrs. Brent," said Dan independently, "and I
won't take my dismissal from any one but Mr. Granville himself."

"Do you defy me, then?" said Mrs. Brent, with a