"Yes, Mr. Glenarm." He was regarding me attentively.
His lips quavered, perhaps from weakness, for
he certainly looked ill.
"Now I offer you your choice,-either to stand loyally
by me and my grandfather's house or to join these
scoundrels Arthur Pickering has hired to drive me out.
I'm not going to bribe you,-I don't offer you a cent for
standing by me, but I won't have a traitor in the house,
and if you don't like me or my terms I want you to go
and go now."
He straightened quickly,-his eyes lighted and the
color crept into his face. I had never before seen him
appear so like a human being.
"Mr. Glenarm, you have been hard on me; there have
been times when you have been very unjust-"
"Unjust,-my God, what do you expect me to
take from you! Haven't I known that you were in
league with Pickering? I'm not as dull as I look, and
after your interview with Pickering in the chapel porch
you can't convince me that you were faithful to my interests
at that time."
He started and gazed at me wonderingly. I had had
no intention of using the chapel porch interview at this
time, but it leaped out of me uncontrollably.
"I suppose, sir," he began brokenly, "that I can hardly
persuade you that I meant no wrong on that occasion."
"You certainly can not,-and it's safer for you not
to try. But I'm willing to let all that go as a reward
for your work last night. Make your choice now; stay
here and stop your spying or clear out of Annandale
within an hour."
He took a step toward me; the table was between us
and he drew quite near but stood clear of it, erect until
there was something almost soldierly and commanding
in his figure.
"By God, I will stand by you, John Glenarm!" he
said, and struck the table smartly with his clenched
hand.
He flushed instantly, and I felt the blood mounting
into my own face as we gazed at each other,-he, Bates,
the servant, and I, his master! He had always addressed
me so punctiliously with the "sir" of respect that his
declaration of fealty, spoken with so sincere and vigorous
an air of independence, and with the bold emphasis
of the oath, held me spellbound, staring at him. The
silence was broken by Larry, who sprang forward and
grasped Bates' hand.
"I, too, Bates," I said, feeling my heart leap with
liking, even with admiration for the real manhood that
seemed to transfigure this hireling,-this fellow whom I
had charged with most infamous treachery, this servant
who had cared for my needs in so humble a spirit of
subjection.
The knocker on the front door sounded peremptorily,
and Bates turned away without another word, and admitted
Stoddard, who came in hurriedly.