"Let him," said Mrs. Oakley. "He'll find that I can make a fuss too."
"I'll go out to ride this afternoon," said Ben, with satisfaction. "I'll get started just before four o'clock, so as to meet John on his way from school. He'll look mad enough when he sees me;" and Ben laughed, as he fancied John's looks.
"It is a very good plan," said Mrs. Oakley, approvingly. "We'll see if he dares to interfere with you again."
The more Ben thought of it, the better he was pleased with this plan. All the academy boys knew that the horse was John's, and they would now see him upon it. He would be likely to meet many of them, and this would make John's humiliation the greater. At half-past three he went out to the barn.
"Mike," he said, to the hostler, "you may saddle Prince. I am going to ride out."
"Your horse, sir? Prince belongs to Master John."
"How dare you stand there contradicting me?" said Ben, haughtily. "The horse is mine. My mother has given it to me."
"It's a shame, then," said Mike to himself, "for Master John sets a sight by that horse. The old woman's mighty queer."
It was lucky for Mike that Mrs. Oakley was not aware of the disrespectful term applied to her in Mike's thoughts, or he would probably have been discharged at short notice. But the fact was, that none of the servants liked her. Feeling a little doubtful of her own position, she always spoke to them in a haughty tone, as if they were far beneath her, and this, instead of increasing their respect, only diminished it.
Mike saddled Prince, and led him out into the yard.
"You must be careful, Master Ben," he said. "The horse has got a spirit of his own, and he isn't used to you."
Ben was a poor horseman, and he knew it; but he was too proud to admit it to Mike.
"Don't trouble yourself," he said, haughtily. "If John can manage him, I can."
"Well, he's got to get used to me," said Ben. "If he don't behave well it will be the worse for him. You haven't given me the whip."
"You'd better not use it much, Master Ben. He won't stand a whip very well."
"Keep your advice till it is asked for," said Ben.
"All right, sir," said Mike, and handed him the whip. He followed him with his eyes as he rode out of the yard. "He don't sit like Master John. It wouldn't take much to throw him off. However, I've warned him, and he must have his own way if he breaks his neck."