He opened the door leading to the enclosed stairs, and fearful of
another attack Nat retreated. As soon as he was on the stairs, the
farmer slammed the door shut and bolted it. A minute later he and Mrs.
Felton heard the youth ascend the stairs to his own room.

"It was kind of hard on the boy to make him go to bed without his
supper," remarked the housekeeper, as she gathered up the things on the
floor.

"It's his own fault," snorted the farmer. "He's got to be took down, he
has!"

"He hasn't had a mouthful since noon, and we had a light dinner, too."

"I can't help that, Mrs. Felton. I'm goin' to teach him a lesson."

"Nat is a high-spirited boy, Mr. Balberry. Maybe he won't stand for it."

"He has got to stand fer it," was the answer, from the sink, where the
farmer was washing his face and hands.

"But if he won't?"

"Wot can he do, I'd like to know?"

"I'm sure I don't know--but he may do something that you least expect."

"He won't do nuthin'," said the farmer, and sank down in his seat at the
table. "He can't do nuthin'. I give him a good home, but he don't seem
to a'preciate it nohow."

To this Mrs. Felton did not reply, but set the food on the table. The
fish had not been spoilt, and the farmer ate all he wished of the dish.

"Why don't you eat?" he asked of the housekeeper, seeing that she had
abstained from touching the fish.

"I--I don't care for it," she answered. She had in mind to save what was
left and give it to Nat for his breakfast.

"That boy is gittin' too big fer his boots," went on Abner Balberry. "He
acts like he was of age, an' he is only sixteen. Last week he wanted to
know how soon I was goin' to pay him reg'lar wages."

"And what did you tell him?"

"Told him I'd pay him wages when he was wuth it an' not before."

"He does almost a man's work now, doesn't he?"

"Not much! Besides, don't I feed an' clothe him an' give him a
comfortable home? He's got too high-falutin' notions, he has!"

"But don't you think he ought to have some money?" went on Mrs. Felton,
who could be a trifle independent herself at times.

"No. Money is the ruination o' young folks. Week before last he wanted a
quarter to go to the circus with, but he didn't git it."

"Almost all of the boys in this district went to the circus. Tom Bradley
told me it was very good, too."

"Humph! That Bradley boy is going to the dogs as fast as he can go."

"Deacon Slide thinks he is a very good boy."

"Well, th