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Read Ebook: Andy Gordon; Or The Fortunes of A Young Janitor by Alger Horatio Jr
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Ebook has 2663 lines and 53279 words, and 54 pages
"You can do what you like," answered Andy, "but you'd better get out of the way, for I'm going to sweep. I'll let you off from sweeping up, as you have had a lesson already."
"You'll let me off!" exclaimed Herbert, passionately. "You--a servant--give me a lesson! You don't know your place, you young beggar!"
"No more talk like that, Herbert Ross, for I won't stand it!" said Andy, firmly.
"I'll call you what I please!" retorted Herbert.
"If you call me another name, I'll lay you down in the dirt again!" said Andy.
Just then, at the open door, appeared the tall, dignified figure of Dr. Euclid, who was in time to hear the last words spoken.
"What's the matter, boys?" he asked, looking keenly from Andy to Herbert.
HERBERT CONSIDERS HIMSELF INSULTED.
Both boys were surprised to see Dr. Euclid, for it was ten minutes before his usual hour of coming.
It happened, however, that he had had occasion to go to the post office to deposit an important letter, and as it was so near the hour for commencing school, he had not thought it worth his while to go home again.
"What's the matter, boys?" repeated the doctor.
Herbert Ross, who was still fuming with anger, saw a chance to get the janitor into trouble, and answered, spitefully:
"That boy has insulted me!"
"How did he insult you?" inquired Dr. Euclid, rather surprised.
"He seized me, when I wasn't looking, and laid me down on the dirty floor!" exploded Herbert, looking at Andy as if he would like to wither him with a glance.
Dr. Euclid knew something of the character and disposition of Herbert, and reserved his judgment.
"What have you to say to this charge, Andrew?" he asked, mildly.
"It is true," said Andy--"all except my taking him unawares."
"What could induce you to make such an assault upon your fellow-student?" said the doctor.
In reply, Andy made a correct statement of the transaction, in mild and temperate language.
"Is this correct, Herbert?" asked the doctor. "Did you interfere with Andrew in the discharge of his duties?"
"I kicked the pile of dirt," Herbert admitted.
"Why did you do that?"
"Because I wanted to teach him a lesson."
"What lesson?"
"Not to cover a gentleman with dust when he entered the room," replied Herbert, in a pompous tone.
Herbert colored, for though the doctor's words were plain and unemphasized, they seemed to him to imply sarcasm.
"Certainly, sir," he answered.
"Those who claim to be gentlemen must behave as such," said Dr. Euclid, calmly. "It is clear that your being covered with dust was accidental, and you had no occasion to resent it."
"Had he any right to throw me down?" asked Herbert, biting his lips.
"Did you not strike him first?"
"Well, yes."
"Then it appears to me that you are quits. I don't approve of fighting, but I hold to the right of self-defense. I don't think this affair calls for any interference on my part," and the doctor passed on to his desk.
Herbert Ross was very much mortified. He had confidently expected that Andy would get into trouble, and perhaps receive a punishment, certainly a reprimand, from the preceptor. As it was, he alone had incurred censure.
He nodded his head viciously, reflecting:
"This isn't the last of it. The doctor is partial to that young beggar, but the doctor isn't everybody. He's responsible to the trustees, and my father is the most important one. He'll find he's made a mistake."
Herbert was not at all improved in temper by a sharp reprimand from the doctor, when he came to recite his lesson, on the shabby character of his recitation.
When recess came, he stalked up to Andy, and said, menacingly:
"You look out, Andy Gordon! You'll get into trouble before you know it!"
"Thank you for telling me!" said Andy, calmly. "What sort of trouble will I get into?"
"You think you're all right because Dr. Euclid took your part this morning!" continued Herbert, not answering the question; "but that isn't the end of the matter, by a long shot! The doctor isn't so great a man as he thinks he is."
"I never knew that he considered himself a great man," answered Andy.
"Well, he does. He doesn't know how to treat a gentleman."
"Why don't he?"
"He upholds you in what you did."
"He thinks it right to act in self-defense."
"He may have to act in self-defense himself. My father is one of the trustees of this academy."
"You said that this morning."
"He can turn the doctor out of office, and put in another teacher," continued Herbert.
"That isn't anything to me," said Andy. "Still, I have one thing to say."
"What is that?" asked Herbert, suspiciously.
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