"Is Mrs. Oakley at home?" inquired Squire Selwyn, for it was he.
"I think I will. Let her know that I wish to see her, if you please."
"Squire Selwyn?" asked Mrs. Oakley. "Where is he?"
"Has he found out anything about John, I wonder?" thought Mrs. Oakley.
"Good-morning, sir," she said, as she entered the lawyer's presence.
"Quite well. My son tells me that John has been absent from school for two or three days past."
"You will excuse my questions; but his father and myself were very intimate friends. Is he at home?"
"I suppose you have no objection to telling me where he is?"
"Suppose I have?" said Mrs. Oakley, coolly.
"You are at liberty to think it very strange," said Mrs. Oakley, composedly.
"Why should you object to telling me that he went away with your brother, Mr. Huxter, and is now at his house?"
Mrs. Oakley started in surprise. The lawyer was better informed than she supposed.
"If you knew," she answered, after a slight pause, "why need you inquire?"
"I wished to know whether you had sent him away, intending to keep his destination a secret."
"He did write to me; but the letter was suppressed by your brother. May I inquire whether this was by your wish?"
"What you tell me is news to me," said Mrs. Oakley; "but I have no hesitation in saying that my brother understands my wishes, and will carry them out."
"I am answered," said the lawyer. "Is it your intention to permit John to continue his studies preparatory for college?"
"It was his father's wish and intention. That wish ought to be sacred with you."
"I trust you will do something more than understand it," said the lawyer, gravely. "I must remonstrate with you on your intentions with regard to John. He is an excellent scholar, and his abilities are superior. It would be a great pity that he should be debarred from the privilege of a college education."
"You say he is an excellent scholar," said Mrs. Oakley. "Then, if his education is already so excellent, there is no further need of his studying. He can begin to earn his living."
"Surely you do not mean what you say. If he were poor, and such a necessity existed, it would be well enough that he should go to work; but you well know that no such necessity exists."
"I am not going to support him in idleness," said Mrs. Oakley, coolly.