Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

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i the pretty little ball, and
should not have -walked so fust. You
late. It is not
Iked of other 1
rml iriccl io eat his breakfast as if nothing had happened ; but
;
,t had occurred to her, and that she had heard that Fred
Drake had a;;-aiu given him trouble, but she knew no particuilieir
own servants had heard something from Mr. Brew-
ard's servants, and they had just mentioned the fact to her.
"Fred ought to profit by Peter's example," said Miss Lanco
gravely.
" And so he may, poor youth," exclaimed Miss Jane. "Good
example is powerful always and ; Peter is so steady."
The ladies went to their different occupations, and thought
no more of Peter, who was riding through pleasant lanes to
the open country which led to the works at Stonemoor. When
he got there, there was an honest welcome ready, for Peter
was greatly beloved by the men. Before he left them to return
to Mr. Ereward, two of the men, who had known him
long and were accustomed to call him their "young master,"
and who also loved and admired him these men, in the hearing
of four or five other men, and evidently with the consent
of all, surprised Peter greatly by cautioning him against
James Gardener. .
Peter stopped them quickly.
" Why, he was as good as a father to me," he said, " when
I could not take care of myself."
"
That may have been easily enough," said a man called
Simon Lystcr. "James Gardener could always work where
the pay was sure and more than sufficient. But something
has happened. He has been carrying on his courses a little
too openly, and Hying at too high game. There has been a
great commotion at ihe mansion. He has.it is said, been
drawing one of their men-servants into betting and bad company,
and sat him on making dishonest speculations. It has
reached Mr. Cleverly's ears, and he has told Gardener that he
will have to go. The man had had a legacy, and as he had
been in the family from childhood he had saved money. He
has nothing left now, and it is said that Gardener has grown
rich on the spoils of many such foolish people, and Mr. Clev-
erly is intending to punish him. He came here this morning,
expecting to see eitlu-r Mr. Br-ward or you. His idea is that
you have discovered things to his disadvantage. We gathered
this from his threats and conversation. He can't be far off
now. He is half mad wiih anger. Go home by the public
road and not by the riverside, as you do sometimes. It is bad
to face a man in Jami-a Gardener's humor, uuless you are
every way more than a match for him. "
" I know nothing of any evil conduct of his towards Mr.
Cleverly or any of his household," said Peter "
steadily. I am
obliged to return by the public road, because to-day I have no
time for a ride for pleasure. I have to keep an appointment
at five o'clock and I ; should be very sorry, even if I were
more than a match for James Gardener, to lift my hand
against him. IIo has, in fact, no cause for any ill-will to mo."
" but don't scorn
" Well, then, good-day," aid the man ;
advice ; keep away from James for the present."
" Thank you. I'll remember what you have said. Thank
you many times;" and Peter rode away. He did not
either mini, woman, or child on his ro:.d back lu 't n il,,iiigton,
1 1... l..ff I,;,. 1 TIT.. T}- ,!'
> A.\'D AM IT/).
tho In' with his iu;r
The;: .
"I
ge to him.
had i
day. We came to no co
to open the matter. I let him know that I
ew
with <
that had passed, and that I i
tween him and Frederick J )r.-. .
He was surprised. I would not let him talk. I v
tory. I said, 'I give you a short time to think!
I don't want to be unjust nor even unkind; though you de-
in his heart lie was sorry thut he had met. .James (!:>rdeii(T.
After breakfast he went to his work as usual he came back
;
to luncheon, saying he had t:> go to Stonemoor for Mr. Breward
in the afternoon. The pony, ready to be mounted, was
brought to the door by Mr. Breward's stableman, and Peter serve severity, you will not get it from me.
rode ;r
"He is not quite like himself to-day," said Miss Lance to her
sjster.
The reader knows that they were very fond of Peter.
Miss Jane replied that the Llea of his being a little over-
'
When he wanted
to say more, I t